Thousands of Pakistani Traders Stuck in Afghanistan After Border Closures, Jirga Says

A Pashtun tribal jirga in Pakistan said thousands of Pakistani traders and travellers remain stranded in Afghanistan after prolonged border closures, urging Chaman’s reopening.

A Pashtun tribal jirga in Pakistan said thousands of travellers, including Pakistani traders, remain stranded in Afghanistan after key border crossings were closed, calling for the immediate reopening of the Chaman border.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the jirga said the Taliban authorities were not allowing Pakistani citizens to return home, despite repeated appeals from families and business groups.

Jirga members said cross-border trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has remained suspended for nearly two months, severely affecting traders, transporters and daily wage earners on both sides of the border.

The Chaman border crossing is a vital trade and transit route between Pakistan’s Balochistan province and southern Afghanistan, handling large volumes of commercial goods and daily passenger movement.

Border closures have become more frequent in recent years due to political disputes, security concerns and documentation issues, often leaving travellers and traders stranded for weeks.

The jirga said many Pakistani travellers had entered Afghanistan with valid passports and visas, but prolonged delays have caused legal documents to expire, worsening their difficulties.

According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, thousands of cargo trucks carrying household goods of Afghan refugees are also stuck at the border. Truck drivers are reportedly facing food shortages, raising concerns among their families in Pakistan.

Jirga leaders further alleged that travellers face harassment and extortion at 22 checkpoints between Chaman and Quetta, and urged authorities to allow residents of Chaman to move freely within their own areas.

The elders announced that a three-day tribal jirga will be convened soon to formally raise the grievances of Chaman residents and affected traders, and to seek a lasting solution to border-related disruptions.

They warned that continued border closures risk deepening humanitarian and economic hardship, calling on both Pakistani authorities and the Taliban administration to resolve the issue through dialogue and coordination.

The post Thousands of Pakistani Traders Stuck in Afghanistan After Border Closures, Jirga Says appeared first on Khaama Press.