ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to partially open Afghan border crossings, which have been closed for 54 days, disrupting trade and stranding thousands of travellers.
All major crossings — including Spin Boldak at Chaman, Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan, Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, Kharlachi in Kurram, and Torkham in Khyber — remain shut.
Pakistan has kept Torkham partially open, but only for one-way expulsions of Afghan migrants. Authorities closed the border and suspended trade following repeated cross-border attacks backed by the Kabul in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan
Responding to formal requests from United Nations agencies — including WFP, UNICEF, and UNFPA — Pakistan has approved a limited humanitarian exception. The exception allows the transport of containers to Afghanistan.
Officials said the exception will be implemented in three phases. The first phase covers food items, followed by medicines and medical supplies, and finally other essential goods related to health and education.
The facility is strictly limited to UN humanitarian shipments and applies for a specific time period. The Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will process the shipments. Private or commercial transit is not allowed.
Pakistan stressed that all restrictions on bilateral trade, commercial transit, and routine cross-border movement remain in place.
Officials said the move addresses humanitarian needs, not policy toward the Afghan people. They added the decision does not open the border for trade or indicate any change in policy toward the Afghan Taliban.
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The prolonged closure has stalled cross-border imports and exports, leaving hundreds of trucks carrying commercial goods stuck on both sides of the Durand Line. Traders and analysts said the disruption is unprecedented in recent years.
