Pakistan has blocked an attempt to bring Afghan fresh fruits into the country through Iran, creating new waves in an already strained regional trade environment. Although the Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement remains in place, Pakistan is not processing goods for clearance due to the border closures at Chaman and Torkham. As a result, over 5,500 Afghanistan-bound containers now remain stuck across ports and highways inside Pakistan.
This situation exposes the sharp challenges faced by Afghanistan as it searches for alternative trade routes, yet continues to rely heavily on Pakistani corridors. However, the blocked entry of Afghan fruits via Iran shows Pakistan’s intent to safeguard its trade protocols during the ongoing border restrictions.
Pakistan Blocks Attempt to Import Afghan Fruit Through Iran
The government stopped a consignment of Afghan-origin fresh fruits that arrived at the Taftan border from Iran. The importer attempted to use benefits under the Early Harvest Programme.
However, Pakistani officials checked the documents, including invoices and phytosanitary certificates, and then denied entry. They stated that the programme applies only when bilateral and reciprocal trade exists between both countries. Since Pakistan-Afghanistan trade is currently paused due to border closures, the programme’s benefits did not apply.
Additionally, both Iran and Afghanistan produce similar fresh fruits, including grapes and apples. Therefore, officials acted to prevent possible misuse, as the system could be exploited to disguise Iranian produce as Afghan goods.
Why So Many Afghan Containers Are Stuck Inside Pakistan
Pakistan has not suspended the transit agreement. Yet, it has temporarily stopped clearing goods to avoid heavy congestion at the closed border points.
More than 5,500 containers now remain stranded. These include:
-
Containers halted at sea
-
Containers stopped in Karachi port
-
729 containers stuck at Chaman
-
142 containers stuck at Torkham
Officials explained that clearing goods would cause severe crowding at the borders, where operations remain halted after skirmishes between forces of both countries.
Afghanistan’s Dependence on Pakistan’s Trade Routes Remains Strong
Although Afghanistan is trying to build new trade channels, its exporters continue to rely heavily on Pakistan. The dependence becomes especially clear in the case of perishable exports.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and dry fruits require short-distance routes and quick movement. These conditions make the Pakistani corridors ideal because they offer lower transport costs and shorter travel time.
Thus, with the border closures, Afghan exporters now face major losses. Perishable goods have limited shelf life. Longer routes increase the risk of spoilage. Furthermore, Afghanistan lacks advanced cold storage and large-scale refrigerated transport.
For these reasons, many exporters made urgent attempts to use alternate routes to reach Pakistani markets. Yet, the blocked consignment at Taftan shows Pakistan’s continued scrutiny.
Pakistan Takes Steps to Protect Regional Transit Trade
Despite the closures, Pakistan is trying to prevent disruption to trade involving other regional countries.
To support Uzbekistan, Pakistan has allowed:
-
Five urgent cargoes to be airlifted
-
Twenty-nine additional consignments to be rerouted through China
This action falls under the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods. Pakistan is now completing the remaining procedures to ensure smooth movement.
By taking these steps, Pakistan aims to fulfill regional obligations, despite tensions and logistical challenges at its western borders.
Why Afghan Alternatives Are Not Economically Viable
Afghanistan has pushed for new trade routes through Iran, Central Asia, and the Chabahar Port. Yet, these alternatives are far more expensive and time-consuming.
For example:
-
Kandahar and Helmand are 150–300 km from Pakistan’s Chaman border
-
The same provinces are 1,200–1,300 km from Iran’s Zaranj or Delaram
-
Balkh and Baghlan are 500–700 km from Pakistan’s Torkham
-
Those areas lie 900–1,000 km from Iran’s Islam Qala
Longer routes mean higher fuel costs, longer transit times, and more spoilage in perishable goods. Transport charges can rise 30–50%, making Afghan exports less competitive.
Another obstacle is that Afghanistan cannot formally trade through Iran due to United States sanctions.
Thus, despite tensions, Pakistan continues to be the most cost-effective trade corridor for Afghan goods.
Impact on Prices and Local Markets in Pakistan
Pakistan’s decision to halt Afghan perishable imports has not caused a major rise in local food prices.
In fact, weekly inflation fell 0.6% in early November. Prices of tomatoes dropped 38%, onions fell 5%, and garlic declined 3.3%.
The market appears to have adjusted, and the impact of missing Afghan produce remains limited.
A Region Facing Trade Strains but Still Interlinked
The blocked fruit consignment, the thousands of stranded containers, and the struggle for alternative routes highlight a central reality:
Despite border closures and political tensions, Afghanistan still relies on Pakistan for efficient and economical trade access.
At the same time, Pakistan faces pressure to maintain protocol integrity while keeping its borders secure.
The current situation shows how closely linked both economies remain, even during times of friction.
In the coming weeks, the future of regional trade will depend on whether the border closures ease and whether both countries can stabilize their routes once again.
