Afghan Trucks Enter India Through Attari-Wagah Border After Ceasefire
| 2025-05-16
Representative Image
Afghan trucks stranded in Pakistan allowed into India via Attari-Wagah border following ceasefire, easing pressure on trade and preventing spoilage of goods.
More than 150 trucks carrying goods from Afghanistan that had been immobilised near the Wagah border in Pakistan are now being allowed into India, in a rare sign of trade resumption following weeks of military tension between India and Pakistan.
The trucks, mostly loaded with dry fruits, had been stranded in no-man’s land between Lahore and Wagah since April 24, after Pakistan suspended trade through its territory in response to Indian restrictions following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.
The attack, which claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists, led to heightened hostilities between the neighbouring countries. India launched a retaliatory military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, on 7 May. A temporary ceasefire was negotiated on 10 May and extended through 18 May, allowing limited humanitarian and trade activities to resume.
Among the first outcomes of this diplomatic de-escalation was the decision to allow Afghan trucks to cross into India via the Attari-Wagah integrated check post, the only land trade route between India and Pakistan.
According to officials, eight trucks successfully entered India on Friday afternoon. The remaining vehicles are expected to cross in phases over the coming days, subject to clearance and security checks.
Traders Welcome Development
Trade stakeholders in both India and Afghanistan had expressed growing concern over the delay, citing financial losses and the risk of spoilage to the goods.
“Eight trucks have come to the Indian side. Others are expected to come soon. We thank the governments of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said BK Bajaj, president of the Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce.
Mukesh Sidhwani, a dry fruit trader based in Amritsar, described the development as a “huge relief”. He noted that importers had already paid Afghan suppliers in advance, and the delay had placed their investments at risk.
“The trucks have started crossing over. So far, five trucks have crossed. The goods are semi-perishable, and every day of delay translates into massive losses,” Mr Sidhwani said.
The reopening has also benefited local workers dependent on the trade route, including porters, customs agents, drivers and hospitality providers operating around the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari.
“Our livelihood depends on cross-border trade. We were staring at a bleak future,” said Gursahib Singh, a porter at the Attari border.
Afghan Pressure Helped Resolve Deadlock
The partial resolution was reportedly facilitated by a formal request from the Afghan embassy in Islamabad, urging Pakistan to allow the trucks, which had already entered its territory prior to the trade suspension, to proceed to India.
Pakistan’s decision to comply with the request, despite the broader freeze in trade relations with India, has been seen as a humanitarian gesture aimed at preventing loss to Afghan exporters and their Indian trading partners.
Before the border closure, around 40 to 50 Afghan trucks entered India daily through the Attari-Wagah route. This route remains vital for land-based commerce between India and Afghanistan, particularly after the reduction of direct trade between India and Pakistan.
Context: Trade Tensions and Historical Disruptions
India and Pakistan have had a long and volatile history of trade interruptions linked to political and security developments.
In February 2019, following the Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 44 Indian paramilitary personnel, India imposed a steep customs duty of 200% on imports from Pakistan, effectively ending most cross-border trade. Later that year, Pakistan responded by suspending all trade with India following New Delhi’s revocation of Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
While trade between India and Afghanistan—particularly exports of fruits and dry goods—continued through Pakistan despite the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the route remained fragile due to the larger geopolitical dynamics of the region.
The Attari-Wagah border serves as a critical logistical node for this commerce, being one of the shortest and most cost-effective trade routes for Afghanistan-bound goods.
With the recent border opening, traders are hopeful that the limited movement may pave the way for more consistent trade cooperation, at least in sectors less vulnerable to political dispute.
Outlook
Officials have not yet indicated whether full trade operations at the Attari-Wagah border will resume, but sources suggest more Afghan trucks may be cleared in the coming days.
For many involved in the trade, the current clearance offers more than just economic relief—it represents a rare instance of cooperation between India and Pakistan under strained conditions, with Afghanistan’s interests acting as a unifying factor.
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