Pakistan Halts Afghan Cargo Transit After Deadly Border Clashes

Pakistan has suspended cargo movement under the Afghan Transit Trade after intense border clashes with Afghan Taliban forces. This decision came on Thursday during a key meeting at the Customs House Karachi. All cargo operations from Karachi Port and Port Qasim bound for Afghanistan have been put on hold.

Tensions escalated after recent violent confrontations along the border. Pakistani forces responded to what they described as an unprovoked attack by Taliban fighters and India-backed TTP militants. In retaliation, Pakistan carried out precision strikes on Taliban positions inside Kandahar.

Over 200 militants linked to Afghan Taliban and TTP were reportedly eliminated in these operations. Despite a 48-hour ceasefire requested by Kabul, the situation remains highly unstable.

Following orders from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), all terminals have been instructed to:

• Offload containers already loaded onto trucks

• Cancel Afghan Transit gate passes

• Stop clearance of Afghan-bound shipments

Terminals at Quetta and Peshawar are said to be overwhelmed, with no more capacity for incoming containers. At South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT), hundreds of transit containers are stuck in long queues. Many trucks on the way to the border are also stranded.

Drivers are waiting with no clear timeline for border reopening. The sudden halt has disrupted trade supply lines and created confusion among transporters. With indefinite suspension, both Pakistani exporters and Afghan traders face losses.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups using Afghan territory to launch terror attacks. Kabul’s reluctance to rein in these elements has deepened mistrust. Border diplomacy remains weak, with no long-term solution in sight.