Maps
Magazine

LEGAL

Pakistan Allows 150 Afghan Trucks to Cross Into India via Wagah
Pakistan allows 150 Afghan trucks stranded at transit points to cross into India via Wagah, easing a weeks-long logjam. The decision honors Afghan ties, despite Islamabad's current trade freeze with India.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-01
Pakistan Allows 150 Afghan Trucks to Cross Into India via Wagah

Pakistan on Thursday permitted 150 Afghan trucks stranded at various transit points to cross the Wagah Border into India. The clearance ends weeks of bottlenecks caused by Islamabad’s recent decision to suspend trade links with New Delhi.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development in a statement, highlighting that the decision was made following a formal request from the Afghan embassy in Islamabad, dated April 28. The trucks were reportedly carrying goods in transit to India but had been stuck due to Pakistan's enforcement of a trade freeze imposed after April 25.

“In view of the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the government of Pakistan has decided to permit stranded Afghan trucks, carrying goods in transit to India, which entered Pakistan before April 25, 2025, to cross Wagah Border for delivering the goods,” the ministry said in a document shared with media outlets.

The list of the 150 approved trucks has been forwarded to the relevant authorities, and the statement encouraged submission of additional details if more stranded vehicles are identified.

This exception comes despite Pakistan’s strong stance on halting all trade activity with India — including via third countries — after New Delhi alleged cross-border involvement in a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, an accusation Pakistan has firmly denied. Instead, Islamabad has called for a neutral and transparent investigation into the incident.

The move also reflects Pakistan’s effort to balance national security interests with its commitments to regional neighbors like Afghanistan, who depend on transit routes through Pakistan for trade.

Tensions between Pakistan and India have remained high since the 2019 Pulwama attack, which led India to impose heavy tariffs on Pakistani imports. Pakistan responded by downgrading diplomatic and trade ties, particularly after India revoked Article 370 of its constitution, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Trade between Pakistan and India remains officially suspended, but exceptions like the current clearance of Afghan cargo highlight the complexity of regional interdependence.

 
Tagged:

PakistanIndia

SouthAsiaDiplomacy

WagahBorder

AfghanTransit

RegionalTrade
Share News: