The transit challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan have long been intertwined with complex political strategies. Over the years, Pakistan has frequently used transit routes as a tool to exert pressure on Afghanistan. This approach has not only affected Afghanistan’s economy and market but has also led to growing domestic dissatisfaction.
In an attempt to address these issues, the previous Afghan government signed the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTA) with Pakistan. This agreement was intended to facilitate the passage of commercial trucks between the two countries. However, due to the political roots of the problems, APTA failed to fully resolve the issues. Furthermore, Pakistan has consistently refused to grant Afghan trucks access to South Asian countries, especially India. This policy has caused significant economic losses for Afghan exporters, particularly in the fruit and vegetable sectors.
With the new government taking power in Afghanistan, expectations to resolve these challenges increased. However, not only have old issues persisted, but in some cases, they have worsened. Continuous border closures and increased customs tariffs imposed by Pakistan have further harmed Afghan farmers and traders.
In response to these challenges, Afghan officials have sought alternative transit routes. Diplomatic efforts have been made with neighboring countries, such as Iran and Central Asia, to establish new trade and transit agreements. While these alternative routes present new opportunities, the reality is that Afghanistan cannot completely eliminate its dependence on Pakistan’s transit routes.
Ultimately, the transit challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan go beyond mere economic concerns; they are deeply tied to political, border, and security issues. Pakistan, which has long been a key supporter of internal power dynamics in Afghanistan, is now leveraging transit pressures and security claims to exert greater influence over Afghanistan’s current government.
To permanently resolve these challenges, Afghanistan must adopt an international and long-term approach. It needs to engage in diplomatic frameworks to seek sustainable solutions that can reduce its dependency on limited transit routes and external pressures.
