Torkham Border Crossing Remained Closed One Year
The trade crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been suspended since October 2026 due to political and security tensions.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in International Trade
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The Torkham border crossing has remained shut for a full year since its closure in October 2026. The prolonged suspension of commercial activity has caused severe economic disruptions for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Why it matters
The closure serves as a critical bottleneck for bilateral trade, stemming from unresolved political differences and ongoing security concerns between the two nations. This sustained trade suspension underscores the fragility of regional economic cooperation when geopolitical tensions escalate.
Estimated cumulative trade losses from the closure range between Rs380 billion and Rs400 billion. Daily impacts include approximately $2.5 million in lost exports and Rs540 million in import-related losses.
The players
Pakistan
A South Asian nation that maintains Torkham as a vital commercial gateway for its $32 billion in annual exports and $75 billion in annual imports.
Afghanistan
A landlocked neighboring country that traditionally trades goods worth between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion in annual imports with Pakistan.
The details
The suspension halted all commercial activities including transport and services, forcing regional reliance on alternative crossings like Chaman, Ghulam Khan, and Kharlachi. In the commercial hub of Landi Kotal, approximately 2,500 taxi drivers and 3,000 labourers lost their primary livelihoods due to the drastic decrease in border activity.
Timeline
The Torkham border crossing closed in October 2026.
The closure reached the one-year mark in October 2027.
Market Dynamics
The ongoing closure of Torkham marks a departure from the regional trade integration goals outlined in the Transit Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This stagnation reflects a broader geopolitical trend where security concerns frequently override established bilateral economic frameworks.
The prolonged border shutdown forces logistics providers and traders to reroute shipments through more distant crossings like Chaman or Ghulam Khan, increasing operational costs. Investors monitoring regional logistics firms should account for these persistent supply chain frictions.
The takeaway
The sustained closure highlights how political instability can rapidly dismantle regional trade dependencies. Businesses operating in border-adjacent markets must diversify their logistics routes to mitigate the risks posed by sudden, prolonged infrastructure shutdowns.
Further reading
For more information on global commercial movement, visit International Trade.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Customs Today Newspaper.
Live Poll
Should the government prioritize restoring cross-border trade over maintaining strict security-based closures in border regions?
