KABUL: The border tension between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban has created severe difficulties for Afghan traders, as trucks loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables remain stranded at the border, leading to massive financial losses and the spoilage of perishable goods.
According to reports, trucks carrying large quantities of grapes, vegetables, and other fresh produce are stuck at entry points into Pakistan, where delays have caused the goods to begin rotting. Traders say they have been forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices in local Afghan markets to minimize their losses as the situation worsens.
It is reported that tons of grapes have already spoiled, resulting in significant financial damage to traders who were relying on timely exports to Pakistan to sustain their businesses. Many have expressed frustration, saying the lack of swift resolution is pushing them to the brink of bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, calls to restore trade relations and ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are growing louder. Business groups and transport operators have urged both governments to engage in dialogue and find a prompt solution to the escalating situation.
The crisis follows a recent directive issued by Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which ordered the suspension of Afghan transit trade transportation from Karachi ports. As a result, long queues of containers have formed, with hundreds of trucks now stranded at various points en route to the border.
Sources indicate that hundreds of loaded containers are parked on both sides of the border, particularly along the Quetta and Peshawar routes, as truck drivers wait for clearance to enter Pakistan. The prolonged standstill has heightened uncertainty and raised concerns about further economic repercussions for Afghan traders.
