Border crossings closed for one year, creating an Afghan dilemma

The major border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been closed for one year as of October 2026. Khan Jan Alokozay, chairman of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that shipping a container from Karachi, Pakistan, to Afghanistan used to cost about $2,000 and take 10 days. But now, traders have to use alternative routes, and it can cost up to $10,000 and take up to two months to finish the same shipping. Pakistani statistics show that trade with Afghanistan fell by more than 74% in fiscal year 2025-26, to about $350 million.