CHAMAN/BALOCHISTAN: Hajji Abdul Bari Achakzai’s office wears a deserted look. The empty chairs in his office in the southwestern Pakistani city of Chaman reflect the impact that border closures, triggered by clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, have had on bilateral trade in both countries.
Pakistan and Afghanistan saw fierce fighting on Oct. 11, when Afghan forces struck multiple Pakistani military posts. Afghanistan officials claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in response to what they said were repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace. Pakistan’s military gave lower figures, saying it lost 23 soldiers and killed more than 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists” during retaliatory fire along the border.
The clashes caused border closures between Pakistan and Afghanistan last week, through the northwestern border crossing in Torkham and southwestern Chaman crossing in Balochistan, effectively halting trade and the movement of people between the two countries.
Seventy-year-old Achakzai’s family has been in the business of importing and exporting goods from Chaman since the past 60 years. The border closures have taken a toll on his business and affected Chaman, he said.
