Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Pakistan has reportedly decided to reopen its major border crossings and transit routes with Afghanistan after nearly 300 days of restrictions that have disrupted bilateral trade, stranded cargo and imposed heavy costs on businesses and transporters on both sides.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made the decision during a meeting with senior government officials and representatives of the country’s business community, according to the Pakistani newspaper Minute Mirror.
The reported decision calls for the reopening of major border crossings and transit routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan and measures to remove obstacles to bilateral trade and facilitate the movement of commercial goods.
The meeting also discussed facilitating legal travel between the two countries, although no specific decision on passenger movement was reported.
Pakistan’s government has not yet publicly confirmed the reported decision or announced a timetable for reopening the crossings.
The main trade routes between the two countries have remained heavily restricted since October 2025 amid escalating political tensions and border clashes. Key crossings affected include Torkham in Nangarhar, Spin Boldak-Chaman in Kandahar and Balochistan, Ghulam Khan in Khost, Kharlachi in Paktia and Angoor Adda in Paktika.
The prolonged restrictions have caused significant economic losses. Afghan and Pakistani traders, transport companies and businesses in border communities have reported declining activity, while large numbers of trucks and commercial consignments have remained stranded along the routes.
Pakistan’s customs authorities reported in October 2025 that hundreds of vehicles were stranded at Torkham and Chaman after trade was suspended, including transit consignments awaiting clearance.
The economic impact has also been felt in Pakistani border towns. Dawn reported in July that the prolonged closure of Torkham had severely affected businesses in Landi Kotal, with local traders describing the downturn as among the worst they had experienced since the closure began.
For Afghanistan, the disruption has pushed traders to seek alternative supply routes through Iran and Central Asia. Some businesses have indicated that they may be reluctant to immediately return to Pakistani routes even if commercial traffic resumes, after investing in alternative supply chains during the prolonged closure.
Torkham has previously been partially reopened to facilitate the return of Afghan migrants, but commercial traffic and regular passenger movement remained restricted.
A full reopening would therefore provide significant relief to traders, transporters and border communities and could restore one of the most important trade corridors between South and Central Asia.
However, the reported move remains closely tied to the broader security dispute between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of using Afghanistan territory to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. The authorities in Kabul have rejected the allegations and said Afghanistan territory will not be used against other countries.
The dispute over cross-border militancy has contributed to repeated border tensions and trade disruptions, making security arrangements a key factor in the restoration of normal commercial traffic.