Pakistan has resumed the Afghan Transit Trade after a 10-day suspension, following a temporary ceasefire agreement with the Taliban government in Doha.
According to customs officials, the clearance of 300 stranded vehicles has begun, marking the first phase of the reopening through the Chaman border route.
The Directorate of Transit Trade (Customs) has issued a detailed directive, outlining that cargo clearance will proceed in three phases under the First In, First Out (FIFO) system once the existing backlog is cleared.
Three-Phase Clearance Plan
In the first phase, nine vehicles that were turned back from the Friendship Gate due to the closure will be re-weighed, scanned, and, if discrepancies are found, subjected to 100% inspection.
The second phase covers 74 vehicles that were returned from the NLC Border Terminal Yard. These too will undergo re-weighing, scanning, and inspection if irregularities arise.
In the third and final phase, 217 vehicles currently parked at the Halting Yard will be cleared for crossing.
Officials said photographs of all returned or halted vehicles will be taken at the Friendship Gate for transparency and documentation.
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Relief for Traders and Transporters
The reopening brings relief to traders, transporters, and cargo operators who faced significant financial losses during the closure. Security and inspection measures have also been tightened to prevent smuggling or illegal trade.
Background: Border Tensions and Ceasefire
Tensions flared earlier this month after Afghan fire on Pakistani border posts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa prompted retaliatory strikes by Pakistan, which destroyed several Afghan positions and killed multiple combatants.
Pakistan subsequently closed all major crossings — including Torkham, Chaman, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan — along the 2,600-kilometre border on October 11.
On October 19, during talks in Qatar, the two countries agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to discuss “detailed matters.”
Chaman’s Strategic Importance
The Chaman crossing is one of the most vital land trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, handling dozens of trucks and cargo consignments daily. Officials said the resumption of transit trade is expected to revive cross-border commercial activity and improve bilateral trade relations.
