PESHAWAR: Traders have said that a large number of trucks loaded with essential food commodities and perishable items were stranded at Torkham owing to closure of the border.

They urged Kabul and Islamabad to resolve their issues for the immediate opening of the border.

Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) director Ziaul Haq Sarhadi in a statement here on Thursday said that the closure of Torkham crossing point brought export, import and other business activities on both sides of the border to a standstill.

Mr Sarhandi, who is also central leader of All Pakistan Customs Clearing Agents Association, said that closure of border for all kinds of traffic badly impacted bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said the Torkhem border post in Khyber tribal district of Pakistan had been closed after a clash broke out between security forces of both the countries two days ago. He said that long queues of trucks loaded with export goods on both sides of the border were seen as they were waiting for permission to cross the border.

Among the export goods, said Mr Sarhadi, a number of trucks were carrying perishable goods including fresh fruits, poultry and other items that were at risk of getting rot, inflicting huge losses on businessmen.

He said trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was in a dismal state, plunging from billions of dollars to millions during the last several months. “Such impediments will cause further drop in trade volume and commercial activities in the region,” he added.

Apart from losses to businessmen, the closure of border has also caused humanitarian crisis in shape of restrictions on patients coming from Afghanistan on daily basis to Pakistan for treatment.

Mr Sarhadi urged the authorities concerned to take urgent measures for ending the standoff and restoring cross-border trade and movement of people between the two neighbouring countries.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2023