Afghan dry fruit traders concerned over continued closure of Attari-Wagah border
Kabul, June 21 (UNI) The closure of the Attari–Wagah border crossing, one of Afghanistan's key trade routes to India, has raised serious concerns among dried fruit exporters of Afghanistan.
The Kabul Dry Fruit Exporters Union has warned that stopping freight truck movement on this route could severely disrupt both fresh and dried fruit exports, Tolo News reported.
The union has urged Pakistani and Indian authorities to reopen the route permanently for Afghan cargo trucks.
Khalid Rahmani, spokesperson for the union, told TOLOnews, 'We hope alternative links through Wagah and Chabahar ports will open soon. Given the current political and trade tensions between Pakistan and India, we predict a decline in exports to both countries.'
After the Indian and Pakistani military tensions eased, the border reopened briefly on May 9, allowing about 162 trucks to pass, but it was shut again.
At least 12 Afghan export trucks remain stuck at the crossing.
With the fruit harvest season approaching, traders warn that continued closure could pose major challenges for Afghan exports. They are calling for diplomatic engagement to reopen this critical trade route.
Omid Haidari, head of international relations at the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, said: 'We urge the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to strengthen contact with the Indian Foreign Ministry so that our major trade route can be reopened.'
Merchant Mahboobullah Mohammadi, said, 'Our biggest export is dried fruit, especially pine nuts, which we mostly send to India via Wagah. But the decline in exports this year has brought significant losses. Our air corridors are still shut, and large amounts of pine nuts remain unsold in local markets.'
The Wagah border was closed after tensions escalated between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, on April 22. The closure of the land border check post continues to cast a shadow over Afghanistan's regional trade.
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