Afghanistan Minister Says Seven-Month Trade Suspension with Pakistan Is Temporary

Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, has stated that the ongoing suspension of trade with Pakistan is temporary and will be resolved in the near future. The border closure, which has lasted for more than seven months, has significantly disrupted commercial activity and transit routes between the two countries.

Azizi emphasized that transit through Pakistan remains a fundamental right for Afghanistan. Despite the prolonged halt, he noted that the country continues to maintain commercial trade relations with eighty nations worldwide. The minister’s comments come amid growing concerns from domestic businesses over mounting financial losses.

The closure of the Torkham crossing and other border points has heavily impacted Afghan merchants and agricultural producers, who rely on these routes to export goods and import essential supplies. Economic experts and industry representatives have stressed the urgent need to reopen transit corridors and decouple commercial exchanges from broader political tensions to restore economic stability.

Mirwais Hajizada, deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, described the resumption of trade as critical for the agricultural sector. He noted that commercial ties have become increasingly politicized, urging authorities to prioritize economic interests. Stakeholders across the trade and farming communities continue to call for a swift resolution to the border restrictions, warning that prolonged disruptions threaten livelihoods and regional supply chains.