Pakistan suspends trade with Iran at two key border crossings over smuggling, security concerns
Pakistan suspends trade with Iran at two key border crossings over smuggling, security concerns
Karachi, Oct 18: Pakistan has temporarily suspended trade at two border crossings with Iran in its Balochistan province to address security concerns and curb smuggling, a provincial official has said.
Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media affairs, said on Saturday the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan crossings had been closed for trade under a notification issued on Friday by the Ministry of Commerce.
He described the move as “necessary to improve the security situation and administrative affairs on both sides of the border”.
The suspension is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the crossings and addressing security and smuggling concerns, Rind said.
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Talks are underway between officials of the two countries to resolve the security and administrative issues, and the crossings are expected to reopen for trade soon, he added.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also described the closure as temporary, state-run IRNA news agency reported.
However, Baghaei attributed the suspension to technical issues, saying the two countries were holding consultations to resolve the problem and restore normal operations.
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The 909-kilometre border between Pakistan’s Balochistan province and Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province has four official crossings at Taftan-Mirjaveh, Gabd-Rimdan, Mand and Chadgi.
The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) has said that trade and commercial activities stand suspended across all border crossings between Pakistan and Iran.
Following the suspension order, the QCCI advised businesses involved in trade with Iran to stop placing fresh import and export orders until further notice.
Hundreds of freight vehicles carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), rice, fresh fruit and other essential commodities have reportedly been stranded on both sides of the border.
Iran’s WANA news agency reported that passenger traffic through the Rimdan-Gabd crossing remained operational, while commercial activities had been suspended.
The Gabd-Rimdan crossing has emerged as a key route for Pakistan’s energy supplies, with more than 4,000 tonnes of LPG imported daily through the route, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The Taftan crossing has already faced disruptions amid unrest in Balochistan. The suspension of commercial supplies through Gabd-Rimdan could further constrain LPG availability and push up prices in Pakistan’s open market, the report said.–(PTI)