A number of Afghan traders have once again voiced complaints about the prolonged closure of Torkham crossing, which has now been closed for over one and a half months, and the additional taxes imposed by Pakistan on Afghanistan's export products.

These traders say that more than a thousand trucks carrying fresh fruit and vegetables from Afghanistan are currently waiting at the crossings between the two countries, unable to enter Pakistan.

Abdul Ghafar Naseri, head of the Kabul Fresh Fruit and Vegetables General Council, stated: "Thousands of our trucks are stranded, whether at the Ghulam Khan port, Shahr-e-Naw, or on the Torkham route. For one and a half months, our trucks have been facing these challenges."

Sayed Shah Helmandi, another trader, said: "How long must we endure these challenges? One of my trucks has been stuck for 11 days, and its contents are now spoiled."

Other traders mentioned that the problems caused by Pakistan this year have made it difficult for them even to cover the costs of transporting their goods to Pakistan.

Gul Ahmad, a trader, said: "Whenever Pakistan reduces its costs, we don't suffer losses, and we can sell our products at a good price, ensuring that they don't go to waste."

Khwaja Dawood Siddiqi, another Afghan trader, added: "The Islamic Emirate has no issues. All the problems come from Pakistan. Our goods easily reach Torkham, but once they enter Pakistan, all the challenges begin, and this country creates problems for us."

Despite repeated efforts, we were unable to obtain a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce on resolving these challenges. However, the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce said that it has raised these issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate and officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Khanjan Alokozai, head of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said: "We have been in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and as I speak with you, over 20 fruit traders and orchard owners have met with Stanikzai, the deputy political director, requesting him to reopen our routes. This is the season for our fruit."

Previously, the Chamber of Commerce and Investment had announced that trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan had decreased by 60% in the past six months compared to the previous year.