KARACHI: Thousands of import shipments bound for landlocked Afghanistan are stranded at Pakistani seaports or border crossings, a business association in the country said on Tuesday, making traders from the two countries liable to pay as much as $200 per container daily on account of port demurrage and shipping detention charges.
Pakistan and Afghanistan had fierce border clashes last month that killed dozens of people on both sides before a ceasefire was mediated by Qatar and Türkiye. The fighting followed Pakistan’s accusations that Afghanistan shelters militants who launch cross-border attacks targeting civilians and security forces. Afghanistan denied the allegations, describing Pakistan’s security challenges as an internal matter.
The two sides also held talks in Istanbul to extend the truce with a monitoring and verification mechanism involving the mediating nations. However, the negotiations broke down amid an atmosphere of distrust, with both sides blaming each other for not showing enough flexibility.
The situation also led to a border closure that affected both bilateral and transit trade.
“The potential for bilateral trade is $5 billion,” Junaid Makda, President of the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry, told Arab News.
