The Pak-Afghan border closure has reached a grim 100-day milestone. This standoff has dealt a staggering blow to regional trade. Reports show that Afghan traders alone have lost over Rs100 billion. While the closure paralyzes ground trade, the Afghan economy suffers the most. The nation now teeters on the brink of a total financial collapse.
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Security Concerns Overpower Commerce
Clashes in October triggered the current deadlock. Since then, authorities have strictly limited the movement of goods and people. Both nations feel the pain of the Pak-Afghan border closure, yet Pakistan views the measure as a vital security necessity.
The Pakistani government refuses to prioritize trade over the lives of its citizens. Islamabad maintains that the Afghan Taliban must act against cross-border terrorism. Specifically, Pakistan demands action against the TTP. This 100-day suspension is now the longest and most damaging disruption in recent history.
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The Human and Financial Cost
The Pak-Afghan border closure devastates multiple sectors daily. The crisis impacts everyone from elite exporters to street-level laborers:
- Exporters: Billions of rupees vanish as food items rot in stationary trucks.
- Logistics: Hundreds of containers sit idle at Karachi ports.
- Workers: Transporters and daily wage earners now face sudden unemployment.
- Strategic Risk: Pakistan may lose its vital access to Central Asian markets if this deadlock continues.
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Demanding Security Guarantees
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s trade community is pleading for a resolution. However, the Pakistani state remains firm. The responsibility for peace lies with the Afghan Taliban.
“Pakistan cannot support trade while militants threaten its security. Kabul must provide reliable security guarantees to restore normalcy.”
For trade to resume, the interim Afghan government must restrain the TTP. They must ensure that militant groups do not use Afghan soil for attacks.
The Danger of Afghan Instability
The Pak-Afghan border closure affects more than just two countries. Afghanistan’s neighbors feel increasing frustration with Kabul’s security failures. If this situation persists, Afghanistan may face internal chaos once again.
The Kabul administration must realize that regional peace is the only way to save its economy. The common man continues to pay for the Taliban’s stubbornness. Only by stopping terrorist infiltration can both nations move toward a stable future.
