Officials of the Afghanistan–Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce say that the closure of trade routes between the two countries for nearly the past nine months has brought bilateral trade to a standstill, inflicting substantial economic losses on both sides.
According to the Chamber, Pakistan has so far incurred losses of approximately US$980 million, while Afghanistan has suffered losses of nearly US$495 million. Officials added that, in addition to the economic and commercial damage, the livelihoods of thousands of people have been adversely affected, creating significant challenges for their daily lives.
Local traders say the continued closure of the trade routes has severely disrupted bilateral trade, imports, exports, and transit operations between the two countries.
Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Vice President of the Afghanistan–Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said that Afghanistan is one of Pakistan’s most important export markets, with Pakistani goods worth approximately US$1.5 billion exported to Afghanistan each year. He added that Afghanistan also serves as a vital transit corridor between Pakistan and the Central Asian countries, facilitating annual trade valued at nearly US$800 million.
Sarhadi warned that the prolonged closure of the trade routes has not only harmed direct trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan but has also significantly disrupted Pakistan’s exports to Central Asia via Afghanistan. According to him, Pakistani exporters alone have incurred financial losses of approximately US$225 million.
He further noted that between 40,000 and 45,000 containers destined for Afghanistan are transported annually through the ports of Karachi. However, the continued closure of the trade routes has seriously disrupted this supply chain.
Meanwhile, Khan Jan Alokozai, President of the Afghanistan–Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that prior to the closures, bilateral trade averaged around US$200 million in monthly imports and between US$50 million and US$60 million in monthly exports. He noted that trade between the two countries has now come to a complete halt.
Alokozai added that, as a result of the current situation, the two countries are collectively sustaining economic losses of approximately US$250 million every month. He warned that if trade restrictions and border closures continue, traders will face even greater financial losses, while the long-term economic relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan will suffer serious damage, with broader negative consequences for the regional economy.
