Thousands of Pakistani Traders Stranded in Afghanistan Due to Border Closures, Jirga Reports

A Pashtun tribal jirga in Pakistan has issued a pressing appeal for the reopening of the vital Chaman border crossing, warning that thousands of Pakistani traders and travellers remain stranded in Afghanistan following prolonged and recurrent border closures.

At a press conference on Tuesday, jirga representatives detailed a growing humanitarian and economic crisis. They stated that despite repeated appeals from families and business associations, Taliban authorities in Afghanistan are not permitting Pakistani citizens to return home. This has left individuals, many of whom entered Afghanistan with valid passports and visas, in a precarious limbo. Compounding their plight, the extended delays have caused legal documents to expire for some, further complicating their status and exit.

The border closures, now approaching two months, have completely suspended cross-border trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The jirga emphasized the severe repercussions for traders, transporters, and daily wage earners on both sides of the frontier. The Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing is a critical economic artery, handling substantial commercial goods and passenger movement between Pakistan’s Balochistan province and southern Afghanistan.

The crisis extends beyond stranded individuals. According to reports from Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, thousands of cargo trucks carrying the household belongings of Afghan refugees are also immobilized at the border. Truck drivers are reportedly facing acute food shortages, raising alarm among their families in Pakistan.

Jirga leaders further alleged that travellers within Pakistan face systemic harassment, citing 22 checkpoints between Chaman and Quetta where extortion is common. They urged authorities to allow the residents of Chaman to move freely within their own districts.

In response to the escalating situation, the tribal elders announced plans to convene a three-day grand jirga in the near future. This assembly will formally catalogue the grievances of Chaman residents and affected traders and seek a durable solution to the persistent border disruptions.

The jirga warned that the continued closure risks deepening humanitarian suffering and economic distress in an already volatile region. They called for immediate dialogue and coordination between Pakistani authorities and the Taliban administration in Kabul to resolve the standoff, underscoring the border’s role as a lifeline for communities and commerce.

Context: Border closures at Chaman have become increasingly frequent in recent years, driven by political tensions, security operations, and disputes over documentation protocols. Each closure strands people and goods, highlighting the fragile interdependence between the two nations.

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