In the past, Torkham handled daily traffic of around 10,000 people, between 500 and 700 freight and passenger vehicles.
Torkham Border. Photo: archive
PESHAWAR:
The Torkham border crossing, a vital lifeline for trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been closed to all movement and commercial activity for more than four months, since mid-October last year.
The closure, triggered by border clashes between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban fighters, paralyzed cross-border trade, stranded hundreds of trucks, put thousands of people out of work and disrupted supply chains in both nations.
According to border sources and trade associations, the crossing was sealed after deadly exchanges on the night of October 11-12, when Afghan Taliban forces attacked Pakistani security posts in retaliation for suspected airstrikes. This led to the indefinite closure of not only Torkham but also other key points including Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Chaman. While a ceasefire was brokered through Qatar and Türkiye shortly afterwards, trade routes have remained closed amid continuing security demands and tensions.
The economic cost has been staggering. Traders estimate daily export losses through Torkham to be around $2 million (approximately Rs 560 million at current exchange rates), with pre-lockdown imports worth much higher. In about 120 days, this translates to export damage exceeding $240 million, hundreds of billions of rupees if import disruption, decreased customs revenue and knock-on effects are included. Recent reports from business groups indicate monthly export losses for Pakistan approaching $177 million (Rs 50 billion), and bilateral trade has plummeted by more than 50 percent in recent periods.
Before closure, Torkham handled daily traffic of around 10,000 people and between 500 and 700 freight and passenger vehicles. Its sudden disruption has paralyzed local supply chains, transportation networks and border markets. Mujeeb Shinwari, president of the Customs Clearing Agents Association, said more than 150 customs clearance offices in Torkham have closed, directly rendering at least 1,000 people idle. “It’s not just closed offices,” he said. “Dozens of families have seen their homes turn cold. Without urgent action, the damage could become irreversible.”
Zakir Shinwari, president of the Torkham Workers Union, reported that more than 4,000 daily workers, drivers, loaders, porters, hotel owners and service providers have lost their livelihoods. Faisal Malook, vice-president of the Landi Kotal Traders’ Union, described the almost total collapse of local commerce: “The markets are empty of customers. Before, people crossed daily to go to work and returned with goods; now there is nothing.”
The shutdown has also distorted prices. Afghan exports of vegetables, cotton and especially dried fruits, almonds, raisins, figs, pistachios and pine nuts have stopped, leading to sharp increases in Pakistani markets. By contrast, Pakistani exports such as potatoes, citrus fruits, bananas, jaggery and medicines have receded, depressing prices for farmers and producers here and causing huge losses.
The impact extends beyond the immediate border. Factories across Pakistan that rely on Afghan raw materials or markets have slowed, while hopes of greater access to Central Asia through Afghanistan, through projects such as the CASA-1000 power transmission, have dimmed amid regional instability.
