Nayanima Basu
The current breakdown of ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to fierce cross-border fighting that has left several dead on both sides, has severely impacted the trading relationship between the two countries. The trade war, which began after the so-called ceasefire was declared in October, has pushed Kabul to look at other partners like India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to diversify its trade and boost its sagging economy. Before the borders were arbitrarily closed by Pakistan the same month, truckloads of goods used to ply the roads with lorries regularly crossing the border checkpoints of Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chaman in Balochistan. The lorries are now halted, Afghan markets have fallen silent while the lives and livelihoods of Afghan farmers, merchants and traders have been adversely impacted.
Islamabad cited Kabul’s use of heavy weaponry against Pakistan for its decision to close the border points. It didn’t stop Pakistan from doing the same, targeting Afghan border checkpoints when fierce clashes erupted between the two neighbours over the terrorist activities being carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), on Pakistani soil.
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