KABUL (SW) – Following nearly a week of temporary documentation allowing commercial vehicle movement at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossings, officials from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACoCI) report a significant increase in truck traffic along these routes.
Khan Jan Alokozay, Deputy Director of the chamber, told Salam Watandar that previously, trucks were frequently halted by Pakistan due to drivers lacking passports and visas. However, now over 1,000 trucks are moving between the two countries daily.
He stated, “Drivers are now given temporary transit documents valid for one year. The process has just begun; there are many trucks, making it time-consuming. Those who have not received the documents yet have been given a 15-day period. Daily, 350 to 400 trucks cross from one side, with 800 to 1,000 trucks at Torkham and 150 to 200 at Dand Wa Patan and Ghulam Khan. We hope this form will simplify the process, facilitating smoother crossings, and that a system will be established to fully register the trucks.”
Alokozay emphasized that so far, 5% of Afghan truckers have received the temporary transit documents, and the process is ongoing.
On June 2, Pakistan began implementing the temporary document plan for cargo truck movement.
Mohammad Younus Momand, First Deputy Director of the ACoCI, noted that trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan, or transit through the shared border crossings, has increased more than before. He added, “Trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan is proceeding well and has increased. Daily, we have more than 500 export trucks, each carrying 30 to 34 tons of goods.”
Naqibullah Safi, Head of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), expressed optimism about the positive impact of the temporary transit documents on increasing exports, particularly during the fresh fruit harvest season in Afghanistan.
“Transport issues have negatively impacted trade significantly. Torkham has been closed two or three times due to visa policy changes, halting goods on both sides. This temporary document is a good step; our traders are now free from restrictions. With this document, our trucks can travel to any city, aligning our transport with international standards.”
Over a month ago, the Pakistani government required Afghan drivers to present passports and visas for crossing the border. Recently, however, the trade ministries of both countries coordinated and agreed on a temporary truck movement plan until the end of the current solar year.
