Over 200 trucks carrying tomatoes, onions, grapes, apples stranded at Torkham crossing, halting trade with South Asia
Afghanistan’s fresh fruit exporters face mounting losses as the closure of a key land route into Pakistan leaves over 200 trucks carrying tomatoes, onions, grapes, and apples stranded at the Torkham crossing, halting trade with South Asian markets.
According to the Dry Fruit Exporters Union, fresh fruit shipments have virtually stopped, although limited quantities of dried fruit are still being flown out. “It is now apple season, and the only nearby and convenient route for selling fruit has been lost,” said a spokesperson.
Traders estimate the country’s fresh fruit exports have plunged by as much as 60 to 70 per cent since the closure began nearly six months ago. With land routes blocked, exporters say air transport has become the only option for shipping produce. But the high cost of air freight and weak demand for expensive shipments are making this alternative financially unsustainable for many.
Read: Pakistan, China partnership transforms saline coastal land into dragon fruit fields
One exporter said his tomatoes were sent back to Jalalabad after being held for two days at the border. With no access to major markets, he was forced to sell them at low prices to prevent spoilage, deepening financial losses. Repeated trade disruptions have pushed many exporters into debt and near bankruptcy.
While the Torkham crossing remains closed to Afghan exports bound for India and Pakistan, limited reopenings at the Kharlachi and Ghulam Khan crossings allowed brief coal shipments before fresh produce exports were again suspended.
The situation is further worsened by the loss of seaport access through Iran’s Chabahar and Bandar Abbas ports, where international sanctions have curtailed operations, leaving Afghan exporters with few viable trade routes.
Read More: Sweet prospects: elevating Pakistan’s mango exports
Exporters are urging the Pakistani government to separate trade from politics and resume transit, while calling for investment in Afghanistan’s cold storage, packaging, and shipping infrastructure. They note that even a 200-ton capacity cold unit remains unaffordable for most, but such facilities could stabilise markets, create thousands of jobs, and shield farmers from future border disruptions.
The shrinking corridor for produce trade threatens a crucial source of income for Afghan farmers and export-oriented businesses. Without swift action, the fresh produce sector faces a prolonged downturn, with widespread impacts on employment, agricultural investment, and regional trade connectivity.
