Fruit and vegetable traders across Afghanistan report heavy financial losses following the latest border closures with Pakistan, which have halted exports to South Asia. Traders estimate damages in the millions of Afghanis and say that with all land routes closed, air transport has become the only option for exports, though high costs and weak demand have made it unsustainable.
According to traders, the closures have left over 200 trucks carrying tomatoes, onions, grapes, and apples stranded at the Torkham crossing. They also cite new U.S. sanctions that have disrupted Afghan use of Iran's Chabahar and Bandar Abbas ports. "The Torkham crossing has been closed to Afghanistan's exports to India for nearly six months, resulting in a 60 to 70 percent decline in the country's exports," said trader Gholam Yahya Meshkwani.
Traders are urging the Pakistani government to separate trade from politics, warning that repeated border closures have driven many Afghan exporters into bankruptcy. They also call on Afghan traders abroad to invest in domestic cold storage and packaging facilities to preserve crops and support exports.
Exporter Kohdamani said the Torkham closure forced him to return truckloads of tomatoes to Jalalabad, where they were sold cheaply to prevent spoilage. "Our truck of tomatoes was held up for two days; we had to take it back to Nangarhar Province. Traders across the board suffered losses," he said. He added that after temporary openings at the Kharlachi and Ghulam Khan crossings for Pakistan's coal imports, all crossings were again closed, worsening the losses for Afghan traders.
Many traders say the repeated disruptions have left them in debt. "Over the past four years, problems with Pakistan have caused significant losses to traders. Politics must be kept separate from trade," Kohdamani said. He added that without investment in cold storage, even a 200-ton unit is unaffordable for many traders.
The trader said that investment in cold storage and packaging could help stabilize exports and create jobs. "If facilities such as proper transportation, refrigerated trucks, standard packaging centers, and storage warehouses are developed, suitable employment opportunities will be created for farmers, potentially generating more than 2,000 jobs," he said.
According to the Dry Fruit Exporters Union, fresh fruit exports have largely stopped, though limited dried fruit shipments continue by air. Spokesperson Khalid Rahmani said, "It is now apple season, and the only nearby and convenient route for selling fruit has been lost."
Pakistan's The Nation reported that bilateral transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan dropped by 66%, from US$2.24 billion to US$754 million between July 2024 and February 2025, largely due to import restrictions and anti-smuggling measures.
Source: 8 AM Media
