Afghanistan fruit exporters state that the export route to Pakistan, particularly through the Torkham crossing, is facing significant challenges. They warn that the continuation of this situation could severely damage the country’s agriculture and trade sectors. According to these exporters, trucks carrying fruits and vegetables are delayed at the Torkham crossing for 24 to 48 hours. They note that these delays cause the produce to spoil before reaching the market, resulting in substantial financial losses for traders. They attribute the issue primarily to the inefficiency of Pakistani authorities and congestion at the Torkham crossing.
Some exporters, in conversations with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, say that the closure of the Wagah border and the Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi gates has concentrated export pressure solely on the Torkham crossing, exacerbating the existing problems. They emphasize that trucks carrying fruits and vegetables should be prioritized for passage over those transporting coal or empty vehicles.
Exporters note that the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce had previously promised to allocate 14 hours daily for the passage of trucks carrying fruits and vegetables through the border. However, they claim this promise has not been fulfilled, even for as little as six hours a day.
Yaman Watanyar, a fresh fruit exporter, says his grape shipments have been stuck at the Torkham crossing for two days and nights, causing him losses amounting to thousands of Pakistani rupees. He has called for the establishment of an additional commercial crossing with Pakistan and for prioritizing trucks carrying fruits and vegetables.
He adds, “Half an hour ago, I spoke with the drivers of my trucks; they were still on Afghan soil. They left Kabul yesterday at 10 a.m., but they still haven’t reached the other side of the crossing. If my grape shipments remain on the road for two nights and reach Pakistan on the third night, they won’t even cover the transportation costs. The heat is intense, and it’s even hotter in Pakistan. The produce doesn’t arrive on time, and as a result, we not only fail to make a profit but also incur losses.”
Omid Haidari, another fresh fruit exporter, says Pakistan only allows Afghan trucks to cross in proportion to the number of Pakistani trucks permitted to enter Afghanistan, a policy that has significantly hindered the export process. He adds that to facilitate exports, the challenges at the Torkham crossing and trade issues with Pakistan must be resolved, while alternative markets should also be developed.
Haidari further states, “Daily, between 300 and 350 trucks of goods are exported to Pakistan, but on average, only 100 to 130 trucks are allowed to cross, with the rest delayed at the border for one or two days. If these challenges persist, traders will suffer losses. Some traders even said today that if this situation continues, they will halt shipments. If that happens, the prices of farmers’ products will drop, dealing a major blow to the country’s agriculture sector.”
This trader calls for investment in air corridors and railway lines to reduce dependency on a single land route. He says, “Pakistan is a local market, and we cannot export all fruits using refrigerated trucks, as their costs are very high. [The Taliban] should cooperate in this regard to prevent spoilage if shipments are delayed at the border for one or two days.”
Gada Muhammad Kohdamani, another fruit exporter, says that for the past month, export trucks have been delayed at the Torkham crossing for 24 to 48 hours. He attributes the delays to the inefficiency of Pakistani officials. Kohdamani adds that although the Taliban’s commissioner at Torkham had promised to allocate 14 hours daily for the passage of trucks carrying fruits and vegetables, even six hours have not been implemented.
He further states, “If these problems persist, traders will face losses as they did in previous years. When a trader incurs losses, they cannot pay farmers and orchard owners. Agriculture in Afghanistan has reached a point where farmers and orchard owners are no longer optimistic. Today in Badakhshan, around 10 people are killed or injured daily due to drug cultivation because they know that legitimate agriculture has neither a market nor an income.”
Kohdamani also mentions that about 20 days ago, Pakistan agreed with the Taliban to offer a 50 percent customs discount on four export items, but this decision has not yet been implemented. He adds that a tariff of 9,250 Pakistani rupees per ton of tomatoes is still being charged.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that, in consultation with the private sector, 14 hours daily have been allocated for the export of fruits and vegetables and 10 hours for other export items through the Torkham crossing.
The ministry also stated that in the first six months of 2025, trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan reached 989 million USD, with Afghanistan’s exports amounting to 277 million USD and imports at 712 million USD.
However, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment announced in September 2024 that trade between the two countries had declined by up to 70 percent.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
توقف ۴۸ ساعته در تورخم؛ راه صادرات افغانستان به فساد و زیان میرسد
