PESHAWAR: Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has dropped from $2.5 billion to $1.5 billion.
The Torkham trade corridor has been closed for over three weeks due to tensions. Trucks loaded with goods remain stuck on the Pak-Afghan highway.
Traders and transporters report losses of millions of rupees.
Pakistan exports cement, rice, medicines, chicken, and meat to Afghanistan through Torkham. It imports fruits, vegetables, and coal from Afghanistan.
A few years ago, trade between both countries exceeded $2.5 billion. Last year, it fell to $1.4 billion.
A jirga of tribal elders and traders is working to reopen the border. They remain hopeful for a resolution soon.
The closure has cost both countries over three billion rupees in lost revenue.
The Torkham border crossing, a key transit point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has remained closed for all types of traffic for the 22nd consecutive day.
Yesterday, a Pakistani jirga had addressed concerns of the Afghan jirga to resume talks over the Torkham border closure. The talks had broken down on Thursday after the Afghan delegation walked out from the talks.
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After consulting officials in Kabul and Jalalabad, the Afghan jirga, led by Afghan Chamber of Commerce Chairman Younus Mohmand, returned to Torkham for a decisive round of talks. The meeting aimed to finalise steps for reopening the border and settling the territorial dispute.
