Prolonged Trade Route Closures with Afghanistan Increase Economic Pressure on Pakistan

DID Press: According to Washington Post, the prolonged closure of key trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan has had a significant negative impact on Pakistan’s economy and domestic markets.

The report says Pakistan closed major trade corridors with Afghanistan in mid-October 2025 following political and border disputes between the two countries.

As a result, imports of Afghan agricultural products—such as walnuts, apricots, and pomegranates—have come to a halt. Fruit traders in Peshawar say the disruption has led to job losses and an unprecedented surge in prices.
Market sources report that prices of some fruits in local markets have risen by as much as 400 percent.

The Washington Post also notes that Pakistan was previously one of Afghanistan’s most important trading partners, with nearly half of Afghanistan’s exports destined for Pakistani markets—highlighting that the trade blockade has dealt a serious blow not only to Afghanistan, but to Pakistan’s own economy as well.