It has been 48 days since the closure of trade crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and due to ongoing tensions between the two countries, there is still no sign of the routes reopening or the release of halted goods.
The Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan has once again urged neighboring countries to separate political issues from trade and economic relations with Afghanistan.
The ministry emphasized that the closure of border crossings could cause significant economic damage to both sides.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, said: “The Islamic Emirate seeks broad trade and economic relations with its neighbors, and the continued closure of trade crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan will bring losses to both countries.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI) expressed concern, stating that the suspension of trade goods has caused substantial losses for traders in both countries. The chamber’s president stressed the need for the immediate release of goods stuck at the crossings.
Khan Jan Alokozai, President of the Chamber, stated: “Approximately $2 billion in trade with Pakistan has been affected and halted. We need to look for alternative routes, and this issue initiated by Pakistan is also detrimental to its own interests.”
This comes as Pakistan’s foreign minister recently stated that the United Nations has requested Islamabad to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid into Afghanistan.
