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Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Attari-Wagah border opens for Afghan trucks stranded in Pakistan
In a relief for traders since the de-escalation of military tension with Pakistan after the May 10 ceasefire, eight trucks carrying perishable goods from Afghanistan, which were among the 150 stranded between Lahore and Wagah border since April 24, crossed into India from the Attari integrated check post on Friday. Official sources said eight trucks carrying dry fruits crossed the Attari-Wagah border, the only land link allowed for trade between India and Pakistan, in the afternoon. Confirming the development, BK Bajaj, the president of the Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce, expressed relief and said: 'Eight trucks have come to the Indian side. Others are expected to come soon. We thank the Governments of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.' Pakistan had suspended trade with India, including to and from any third country through its territory, on April 24 in response to the restrictions imposed by India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. Following a recent request from the Afghan embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan decided to permit the 150 trucks that had entered its territory before April 25 to cross the border to India. 'Due to the closure of this route, the quality of the commodities was deteriorating. Indian importers make payment in advance to Afghan traders. We would have had to bear a huge loss if this route was not reopened,' said Mukesh Sidhwani, an Amritsar-based dry fruit trader. Porters at the joint checkpost were also relieved. 'Our livelihood depends on cross-border trade. We were staring at a bleak future,' said Gursahib Singh, a porter at the Attari ICP. Traders in Afghanistan had also warned of damage to the commodities due to the continued closure of the Attari-Wagah border, which is one the shortest and cheapest transit routes for trade with India. After the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 that left 44 CRPF personnel dead, India had restricted imports from Pakistan by hiking the custom duty to 200% from a mere 5%. Since then, import of goods from Pakistan was negligible. In August 2019, when the Narendra Modi-led government abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan ceased all trade ties with India. The neighbouring country also barred India from exporting goods to Afghanistan, though import of the Afghan goods, such as dry fruits and apples, remained normal even after Taliban took control of the country. Around 40-45 Afghan trucks were reaching Attari daily before the Pahalgam attack.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Trade disruptions at Attari-Wagah border leave Afghan dry fruit trucks stranded
The suspension of cross-border trade through the Attari-Wagah land route in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack has left over 150 trucks carrying perishable goods from Afghanistan stranded between Lahore and Wagah. The stranded trucks are reported to be mostly carrying dry fruits. The Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP), once a symbol of regional connectivity and economic opportunity, now lies underutilised. Opened in 2012 to facilitate fast and cost-effective trade, it had seen peak trade volumes of over Rs 4,370 crore in 2018-19. However, trade has faced persistent setbacks since the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, when India halted trade with Pakistan. Only trade with Afghanistan, routed through Pakistan, was continued – until now. Mukesh Sidhwani, a leading dry fruit trader, said, 'Our trucks with perishable and semi-perishable commodities have been stranded on the way between Lahore and Wagah. Afghan and Indian traders will have to bear the losses for the perishable items that are in these trucks.' Sidhwani emphasised the strategic importance of the Attari route for India-Afghanistan trade, noting that 'India's 90 per cent trade with Afghanistan was via Attari. This was the most viable link.' He added that while it took six to seven days for a truck to reach India from Afghanistan, transport from Amritsar to Mumbai took only four days, ensuring efficiency for time-sensitive goods. 'Pakistan government has allowed these trucks to enter India. We have also requested the Indian government. Afghan authorities have also been talking to both governments,' said Sidhwani, who acknowledged that Indian authorities are being cautious. 'We are hopeful that these trucks will be allowed soon. We also understand the national interests,' he added. Traders are also concerned about the long-term economic and infrastructural impact. 'Thousands of people were employed directly or indirectly through this trade route. There is great infrastructure constructed at ICP. It will deteriorate if not used. It will be a big loss to Punjab, especially Amritsar,' Sidhwani remarked. He further cautioned that if the route remains closed, traders may have to explore alternative routes like the Chabahar port in Iran. 'But that will not only increase the cost by 15 to 20 per cent but consignments will also take much more time. Time is a crucial element in the trade of perishable and semi-perishable items,' Sidhwani added. Another trader, Rajdeep Singh Uppal, highlighted a new dimension to the crisis. 'India has imposed a ban for the first time on the import of Pakistani goods via a third country. So far, the situation is tense. We don't know what will happen in the future,' he said.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Attari border closure amid Pahalgam attack hits dry fruit import from Afghanistan, prices may rise
The closure of Attari border amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack is likely to affect India's imports of dry fruits, including almonds and pistachios, from Afghanistan, which is expected to push the prices of these commodities significantly in the domestic markets, exporters in both countries said. In the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack at a meadow in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, India took a series of measures, including immediate shutting down of the Attari-Wagah land border. In retaliation, Pakistan also announced that all trade with India, including to and from any third country through Pakistan, is suspended forthwith. In a statement, the foreign ministry of Taliban government said the closure of the 'only operational land border crossing' at Attari has affected trade between India and Afghanistan via Pakistan. 'This is one [of] Afghanistan's shortest and cheapest transit routes for trade with India, and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) has said annual trade via this route is worth $500 million,' it added. India's exports to Afghanistan were $264.15 million in 2024-25 (April-January), while imports stood at $591.49 million, including $358 million inbound shipments of dry fruits such as almonds, dried figs, pistachios, and raisins. While exporters are eyeing Chabahar Port of Iran as an alternative trade route, they admit it will result in soaring prices. 'Fresh stock of Afghanistan dry fruits will take at least two months to arrive in the international market. In this period, I hope an alternative route will be opted via Iran. But it will be costlier and more time-consuming. Resultantly, this will increase the price of the dry fruits. Time will tell how much the price will rise,' said BK Bajaj, an Indian importer. Dry fruit trader Mukesh Sidhwani said the domestic price of dry fruits may be increased by up to 20%.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Attari-Wagah border closure to hit biz, but traders say they stand with country
With Pakistan suspending all trade with India, including to and from any third country through its territory, trade with Afghanistan via the Attari-Wagah border integrated check post (ICP) has also come to a halt. This will affect the local economy, especially small traders and industries, whose livelihood largely depends on this trade. Located around 28 kms from Amritsar city, this is the only permissible land route allowed for trade between India and Pakistan and crucial for imports from Afghanistan. After the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, in which 44 CRPF personnel were killed, the Indian government had restricted import from Pakistan by hiking the custom duty to 200%, from a mere 5%. Since then, import of goods from Pakistan has remained almost stopped. In August 2019, when New Delhi abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had ceased all trade relations with India. The neighbouring country had also barred India from exporting goods to Afghanistan, though import of Afghan goods, such as dry fruits, remained normal, even after Taliban took control over the country. As per the official website of the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI), trade through this route had peaked in 2018-19, touching ₹4,370.78 crore, before the restrictions were imposed by India. The trade witnessed a sharp drop in subsequent years. The lowest trade figure was recorded in 2022-23 at ₹2,257.55 crore. However, the figures showed signs of recovery in 2023-24, reaching ₹3,886.53 crore. 'Will look for alternative routes' RS Sachdeva, chairman of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Punjab Chapter, said, 'It is Punjab's bad luck that the trade through Attari-Wagah border has been closed. This will hit the state's economy and growth. At one point, 10,000 persons worked in the trade through this route. Now, this figure is only 400-500.' Dry fruit importer Mukesh Sidhwani said, 'Though the trade has been halted by Pakistan, we are with our nation first. We will look for alternative routes to import our commodities.' Expressing similar views, trader Rajdeep Singh Uppal said, 'We stand with the government and support its decision.' Dharam Singh, a sugarcane juice seller, said, 'This ICP provides employment to 50 villages of this area. Closing of trade will hit the livelihood of the people, including porters, labourers and owners of eateries'. 'The Pahalgam tragedy demands significant retribution from the perpetrators. However, one definitely does not understand this trade embargo across the Attari-Wagah axis. We have already put up 200% duty, reciprocated by Pak by banning trade across this post. This is more a penalty to the people of Punjab and thus unfair,' says Gunbir Singh, Past Chairman, CII Punjab.
