RASC News Agency: The Ministry of Commerce of Pakistan has announced that Afghanistan cargo vehicles without a temporary permit, visa, or passport will not be allowed entry into the country. According to a press release issued by the ministry on Thursday, August 1, “Afghanistan cargo vehicles without a temporary permit will not be permitted entry.”
The statement clarified that vehicles carrying transit goods are exempt from this new directive. Additionally, the Ministry of Commerce of Pakistan mentioned that temporary permits have been distributed to some cargo vehicle drivers. Earlier, Pakistani media reported that under a new agreement between Pakistani authorities and the Taliban, effective from July 15 of this year, cargo vehicles carrying commercial goods between the two countries must obtain a temporary permit to cross the border.
In a related statement, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, previously emphasized that Islamabad has not abolished the “single document procedure” at its border crossings with Afghanistan. This announcement comes amid ongoing complaints from Afghanistani traders and cargo drivers about restrictions and customs challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
These circumstances have strained economic relations between the two countries, with Afghanistani traders suffering significant losses. As a result, Afghanistan is exploring alternative routes, with many considering Iran as a replacement for Pakistan in their trade activities.
