Pakistan, Afghanistan Agreement doesn't Talk about Border Opening

ISLAMABAD, 31 Oct 2025: Negotiations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul over the past six days focused exclusively on securing peace through counterterrorism measures, with no mention of reopening the border. 

Pakistan’s primary objective was to ensure Afghan territory is not used for terrorism against Pakistan, targeting groups like banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which are allegedly backed by India.

Despite several moments where talks nearly collapsed, Pakistan agreed to continue negotiations at the request of Turkey, Qatar, and the Afghan Taliban delegation. On October 30, an interim agreement was reached emphasizing:

• Consolidation and maintenance of the Doha ceasefire, conditional on no terrorism emerging from Afghan soil.

• Implementation of a joint monitoring and verification mechanism with authority to penalize violations.

• Scheduling a follow-up meeting on November 6 to finalize implementation details.

The absence of any reference to border opening in the agreement highlights Pakistan’s insistence on prioritizing national security and sovereignty over easing border access. The Pakistani delegation stressed that peace must be built on verifiable actions against terrorist groups, not concessions on border management.

Pakistan’s leadership remains united and resolute, committed to protecting the country’s safety without compromise. The role of Turkey and Qatar as mediators was also crucial in reaching this interim deal. The outcome is presented as a constructive milestone for regional stability, yet it clearly signals that border issues are not on the negotiation table until security concerns are fully addressed.

Border Trade Losses

In the last 20 days, the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has severely disrupted business and trade, causing significant economic losses. The closures, particularly at key crossings like Torkham and Chaman, have halted bilateral trade which normally amounts to around $15 million daily. This interruption has caused losses running into tens of millions of dollars over the period.

The economic impact includes widespread spoilage of perishable goods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, wheat, rice, and dairy products stranded at the border. Prices of essential goods like tomatoes in Pakistan have surged up to five times due to supply shortages. 

The closure has also resulted in unemployment and financial hardship for an estimated 11,000 daily wage workers who rely directly on border trade, alongside deepened poverty affecting tens of thousands of their family members.

Pakistani traders and industries have faced severe losses, with the annual $2.3 billion trade with Afghanistan coming to a near standstill. The blockade also threatens customs revenue in Afghanistan and promotes smuggling tendencies that could destabilize the border region further. 

Overall, the trade disruption exerted a daily loss estimated at about $1 million to $1 billion Pakistani rupees, reflecting a substantial economic blow for both countries over these 20 days.

Stranded Refugees

Afghanistan’s ambassador in Islamabad, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, raised the issue of stranded Afghan refugees being haunted out of Pakistan these days, especially Punjab.

He said on one hand, police have reportedly been instructed to intensify the campaign of arresting and deporting refugees. ‘Public announcements are being made in camps, mosques, and other public areas, urging people to evict Afghans from their homes and shops, provide information about them to the police, and refrain from renting properties to them.’

According to information received by the Embassy, approximately 10,000 Afghan refugees have so far been arrested and transferred to holding centers. Thousands of others, fearing arrest, have packed their belongings and are sitting in vehicles, unable to move forward because the crossing points are closed.

Refugee convoys arriving from various parts of Pakistan—particularly from Punjab Province—have reportedly been stranded along the road from Jamrud to Torkham in nearly 400 large trucks, facing extreme hardship. He said: ‘Among them are children, women, the elderly, and the sick, who, in addition to cold weather, are suffering from lack of shelter, clean water, food, and medicine.’

He informed that during the past three to four days, three children and one woman have lost their lives due to the harsh conditions. ‘Many people have approached the Embassy, reporting incidents in areas such as Sialkot, Khushab, and Attock, where returning Afghan refugees were allegedly stopped by police, pulled from their vehicles, and told they would only be released upon payment of money—otherwise, they would be forcibly transferred to holding centers.’

Zakir Jajaly, an Afghan analyst, in a post on X said the outcome of talks in Istanbul between Afghanistan and Pakistan will shape the future of bilateral relations. ‘The parties must engage with honesty, pragmatism, and wisdom. Unrealistic expectations serve no one and only risk prolonging the process and undermining progress.’