Pakistan to Hold Meeting on Reopening Border Crossings with Afghanistan

Asad Qaiser announced that Pakistan will hold a meeting with key trade and industry stakeholders to discuss sustainable solutions for reopening border crossings with Afghanistan. The crossings have been closed for nearly eight months due to military clashes with the Taliban. This prolonged closure has caused extensive economic damage on the Pakistani side.

Torkham Chamber of Commerce officials stated that the border closure has resulted in unemployment for about two million people and nearly 278 million dollars in losses for traders. The situation has affected about 50 percent of economic activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Some traders have been forced to relocate their activities to Lahore and other cities as a result.

Qaiser called for separating political issues from trade relations. He said that ordinary citizens on both sides should not bear the costs of political disputes. Qaiser described a Loya Jirga planned for July as an important step for resolving obstacles and reviving trade between the two countries.

The meeting is expected to address the problems caused by the closures and explore ways to restore normal border operations. Economic losses have been significant, impacting businesses and employment in border regions. Efforts to find solutions are underway through consultations with affected sectors.