Dozens of Pakistani truck drivers taking goods to Afghanistan have been stuck for weeks at major border crossings, caught in an intense standoff between Pakistan and Afghanistan that has almost stopped regional trade.

The closure of important trade routes has forced hundreds of trucks to remain parked at the borders, where drivers with little food, no money and no safe place to stay are trying to survive in very harsh conditions, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, exporters and logistics firms said that the suspension of cross-border movement has nearly frozen the delivery of Pakistani kinnows and other goods meant for Afghanistan, Iran and the Central Asian region.

The borders have been shut since October 11 after heavy clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces, the most serious confrontations since the Taliban came back to power in 2021. Pakistan has accused Kabul of not doing enough to control militants operating from its territory.

Junaid Makda, president of the Pakistan-Afghanista Joint Chamber of Commerce, said that kinnow exporters, freight workers and logistics companies are among the worst affected, as perishable goods continue to spoil at the border.

He said the halt in trade has come during a period when kinnow exports are usually at their highest, which is now creating financial stress for everyone involved, from farmers to transporters. Makda also criticised the State Bank of Pakistan for rejecting a proposal to ease complex financial rules for kinnow exports to Iran and Central Asian markets through Iran, as reported by The Express Tribune.

Pakistan exported kinnows worth $110 million last year. This year, the earnings are expected to fall to $100 million because of the ongoing crisis. Thousands of containers carrying goods for regional and bilateral trade remain stuck across the country, while traders and clearing agents are paying daily demurrage charges of $150-200 for each container. Makda called on the authorities to urgently remove these charges, warning that many small businesses and exporters are close to collapse, as reported by The Express Tribune.