Pakistan Resumes Afghan Transit Trade in Phases After Doha Ceasefire Agreement
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Pakistan has resumed Afghan transit trade after a 10-day suspension, following a ceasefire deal with Afghanistan’s Taliban government in Doha. Around 300 stranded cargo vehicles are being cleared through the Chaman border in a phased operation supervised by Customs authorities.
Introduction
After nearly ten days of disruption, Pakistan has officially resumed Afghan transit trade — a vital lifeline for landlocked Afghanistan’s imports and exports. The move follows the “immediate ceasefire” agreement between Islamabad and Kabul, reached last week during peace talks in Doha, Qatar, mediated by Qatar and Turkiye.
According to officials from Pakistan Customs, trade operations are being restored in a phased manner, with the first batch of cargo vehicles allowed to cross the Chaman border into Afghanistan on Friday.
The resumption comes as a relief for hundreds of transporters and traders who had been stranded on both sides of the border due to escalating tensions and cross-border hostilities earlier this month.
Background: 10-Day Suspension Amid Border Tensions
Border Clashes and Ceasefire Agreement
Earlier in October, border clashes between Pakistani forces and Afghan border units led to a complete shutdown of the Chaman and Torkham crossings, disrupting transit and commercial movement.
The escalation prompted diplomatic intervention, culminating in a Doha ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan government. The talks, hosted by Qatar and Turkiye, produced an immediate truce and commitments to ease border tensions and restore normal trade.
The Afghan Taliban government had pressed for the reopening of transit routes, calling the closure “damaging to both economies.” Pakistan agreed to resume operations after verifying security protocols and implementing new inspection procedures for cargo movement.
The Economic Significance of Afghan Transit Trade
A Vital Economic Corridor
The Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA), in place since 1965 and updated in 2010, allows Afghanistan to import goods via Pakistani ports such as Karachi and Gwadar. The goods are transported overland to Afghanistan through border crossings at Torkham, Chaman, Ghulam Khan, and Kharlachi.
The trade route is not only essential for Afghan commerce but also a revenue-generating and employment-supporting network for Pakistan’s border regions.
When the suspension took effect, over 300 container trucks carrying essential goods — including food supplies, textiles, cement, and machinery — were halted at various terminals, creating a significant backlog.
The Human Impact
Truck drivers, customs agents, and traders bore the brunt of the suspension. Perishable goods deteriorated in the heat, while drivers were forced to live in harsh roadside conditions. Many had expressed concern that prolonged closures could trigger price hikes in Afghan markets and discourage regional investment.
With the resumption now underway, the focus has shifted toward clearing the backlog efficiently and transparently.
The Directorate’s Notification: Three-Phase Clearance Plan
The Directorate of Transit Trade (Customs) issued a detailed operational directive outlining how cargo traffic will resume. The plan adopts a “first in, first out” (FIFO) approach, ensuring that trucks stranded longest are cleared first.
Customs authorities have divided the clearance process into three phases, covering approximately 300 vehicles.
Phase One: Reprocessing the First Nine Vehicles
In the first stage, nine vehicles that were turned back when the Friendship Gate closed are being reprocessed.
According to Customs officials, these vehicles will undergo reweighing and rescanning to verify their cargo contents. Any weight or documentation discrepancies will result in complete physical inspections to prevent smuggling or misdeclaration.
Officials say the goal is to ensure data integrity between Customs records and physical cargo before reopening large-scale operations.
Phase Two: Clearing the NLC Border Terminal Yard
The second phase targets 74 vehicles that were previously returned from the National Logistics Cell (NLC) Border Terminal Yard.
Each truck in this batch will be subjected to the same reweighing, scanning, and verification process. In cases where discrepancies arise, full inspections will follow under the supervision of senior Customs and NLC officials.
This step is intended to maintain trade transparency while ensuring that goods are cleared without undue delay.
Phase Three: Processing 217 Stranded Trucks in the Halting Yard
The final and largest phase involves 217 cargo trucks currently parked in the Halting Yard. Once cleared through the prescribed verification and scanning procedures, these vehicles will be allowed to cross the border into Afghanistan.
Officials noted that the process could take several days due to the volume of goods and limited scanning capacity at the Chaman crossing.
“Our priority is to ensure a smooth, secure, and transparent clearance process,” a senior Customs officer said. “We are committed to facilitating trade while safeguarding against irregularities.”
Operational Coordination Between Agencies
Customs, NLC, and Frontier Corps Involvement
The phased reopening is being coordinated between Pakistan Customs, the Frontier Corps (FC), and the National Logistics Cell (NLC).
Customs handles documentation and inspection; NLC oversees logistics and weighing systems, while FC provides security for convoy movement and border management.
An inter-agency monitoring cell has been established to track the movement of each cleared vehicle, ensuring accountability and efficiency throughout the process.
Security and Verification Measures
In addition to reweighing and rescanning, officials have enhanced digital record-keeping and real-time cargo tracking.
The Pakistan Single Window system, integrated with Customs, is being used to monitor container movement and verify clearance data.
By combining physical inspections with electronic verification, authorities hope to curb smuggling, under-invoicing, and misuse of the Afghan transit route, which has long been exploited by illicit trade networks.
Regional Implications and Diplomatic Significance
Trade as a Peace-Building Tool
The resumption of transit trade is seen not only as an economic measure but also as a confidence-building step following the Doha ceasefire.
Analysts argue that reopening trade routes can stabilize fragile diplomatic ties and reduce the likelihood of renewed border violence.
“Trade diplomacy has historically served as a bridge between Islamabad and Kabul,” said a regional affairs expert. “This phased resumption demonstrates that economic cooperation can pave the way for sustained peace.”
Afghanistan’s Dependence on Pakistan’s Trade Corridors
Afghanistan relies heavily on Pakistani ports and road networks for its imports, including food, fuel, and industrial goods. While alternative routes through Iran and Central Asia exist, Pakistan remains the most cost-effective and accessible option.
The reopening is therefore being welcomed by Afghan traders, who say restoring transit trade will stabilize prices and revive cross-border business confidence.
Economic Prospects: Gradual Normalization
Impact on Bilateral Trade Volume
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan had dropped by nearly 35% during the border suspension. With the reopening, economists predict a swift rebound as pending consignments are cleared and new trade orders resume.
The resumption also benefits Pakistan’s transport and logistics sectors, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where thousands of livelihoods depend on border trade.
Boost for Gwadar and Karachi Ports
The clearance of Afghan-bound goods will also unclog port storage facilities at Karachi and Gwadar, reducing demurrage costs and improving port turnaround times.
Port authorities have expressed readiness to handle an anticipated spike in transit shipments, emphasizing the need for coordinated scheduling to avoid congestion.
Challenges and Next Steps
Despite the positive development, experts caution that maintaining the flow of transit trade will require continuous coordination and political will.
Ensuring Ceasefire Stability
The Doha ceasefire remains a fragile arrangement. Renewed border tensions or militant activity could again disrupt trade. Both countries must now ensure that border management protocols are respected and communication channels remain open.
Customs Reforms and Transparency
The phased resumption also highlights the need for customs modernization. Corruption, bureaucratic delays, and manual paperwork have long plagued the transit system. Analysts recommend broader adoption of digital documentation, AI-assisted scanning, and risk-based cargo profiling to enhance efficiency and accountability.
Voices from the Ground
Relief Among Drivers and Traders
Transporters waiting for clearance at Chaman expressed cautious optimism.
“We’ve been waiting here for over a week,” said Gul Khan, a truck driver from Quetta. “It’s a relief that we can finally move again, but we hope this doesn’t happen every few months.”
Afghan traders also welcomed the move, calling it a “positive step toward rebuilding trust.”
“Trade is our lifeline,” said Ahmad Zahir, a logistics agent based in Kandahar. “We need stable relations and open borders, not closures that hurt ordinary people.”
The Bigger Picture: Connectivity and Regional Stability
The phased reopening of Afghan transit trade aligns with Pakistan’s broader regional vision — promoting economic connectivity and trade-based diplomacy.
It reinforces Islamabad’s narrative that economic cooperation can underpin long-term peace and stability in South and Central Asia.
As Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized earlier at the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference, projects like CPEC and transit trade frameworks can transform Pakistan into a regional trade hub.
Conclusion
The resumption of Afghan transit trade after a 10-day suspension marks a crucial step toward restoring normalcy and trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The three-phase clearance plan, managed through transparency and cooperation, highlights Islamabad’s intent to balance security concerns with economic continuity.
While challenges remain — including ensuring the Doha ceasefire’s durability — the reopening has already brought tangible relief to traders and transporters on both sides.
If sustained, this could signal not just the reopening of trade routes but the reopening of diplomatic goodwill, laying the groundwork for regional economic integration and peace.
