Pakistan Reopens Border for UN Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan After Two-Month Suspension

ISLAMABAD: After nearly two months of halted cross-border movement, Pakistan has decided to resume the clearance of humanitarian aid consignments destined for Afghanistan, allowing the United Nations’ agencies to transport relief goods through the **Chaman** and **Torkham** border crossings.

The development marks the first **limited and controlled restoration of Afghan transit operations** since Pakistan suspended routine trade on October 12 at key border points, including Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda, and on October 15 at Chaman. The suspension left hundreds of cargo trucks stranded on both sides of the border.

According to official communication issued to the **FBR** and the **Directorate General of Transit Trade**, Pakistan has authorized the movement of humanitarian aid belonging to three UN agencies. The first batch includes **143 containers**, comprising:

* **67 WFP containers** carrying food assistance
* **74 UNICEF containers** containing children’s supplies
* **2 UNFPA containers** transporting health and family support items

The letter states that the aid will be dispatched in **three phases**: food supplies first, followed by medicines and medical equipment, and finally educational materials. Additional consignments will be cleared once updated lists are submitted by the UN agencies.

Authorities have been instructed to process and facilitate these containers under the **Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA)** and **ATT rules**.

Despite the reopening for humanitarian goods, a large number of commercial trucks remain stranded, including **412 vehicles at Chaman** and **83 at Torkham**, awaiting clearance.

In the current fiscal year 2024–25, Pakistan has recorded over **$1 billion** worth of imports under Afghan transit trade, totaling **42,959 containers**.

The controlled reopening aims to address urgent humanitarian needs in Afghanistan while broader trade restrictions between the two countries remain in place.