After a 10-day suspension, Afghan transit trade has been partially restored at major border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, where over 300 trucks have been cleared in phased operations. However, the Kharlachi border near Parachinar remains closed for the 13th consecutive day, leaving cross-border trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan disrupted in several regions.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), customs clearance at Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda stations had been suspended since October 12, 2025, following incidents of unprovoked aggression from across the Afghan side. Under a new directive by the Directorate of Transit Trade, cargo operations at reopened borders are now being conducted in three phases on a “First In, First Out (FIFO)” basis to clear the backlog.

Officials said that at the Torkham terminal, around 255 export and 24 import trucks remain parked, while another 200 trucks are stranded on the Jamrud–Landi Kotal road.

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In Chaman, customs clearance for several consignments also remains pending, though normal trade is expected to resume in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Kharlachi border in Kurram district is still sealed, halting the movement of goods and traders between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Local business leaders said the prolonged closure has led to huge financial losses, as dozens of trucks loaded with fruits and vegetables have been stranded for nearly two weeks, causing perishable goods to rot.

Trade Union President Malik Zartaj Hussain said Afghanistan exports fruits, dry fruits, and coal to Pakistan, while Pakistan exports flour, sugar, cement, and other essential items to Afghanistan. He warned that the closure has left hundreds of daily-wage laborers jobless and disrupted livelihoods on both sides.

The extended shutdown has also triggered a spike in food and vegetable prices in Parachinar, adding to the hardship of local residents.

Officials expressed hope that with the gradual restoration of the transit trade under the Doha ceasefire understanding, all remaining crossings, including Kharlachi, will reopen soon, paving the way for improved bilateral trade and regional stability.