Pakistan resumes limited truck traffic at Iran border after security halt

Freight trucks began crossing the Pakistan-Iran border again on Monday, ending a nine-day suspension of cargo traffic.

Islamabad halted all cargo movement through the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan crossings in Balochistan province on October 17. Officials cited security risks as the reason for the shutdown. On a typical day, hundreds of vehicles pass through these points.

Mir Naveed Jan Kalmati, president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said trade partially resumed over the weekend. Border officials cleared consignments dated October 16 or earlier. Pakistani exports, including rice and bananas, have started crossing into Iran. Trucks loaded in Iran before the closure, some carrying liquefied petroleum gas, are also entering Pakistan. They are moving slowly, according to Haji Noor Muhammad Shahwani, central president of the Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association.

The halt in LPG imports caused severe shortages and price spikes in Pakistan. The country imports most of its energy from the Middle East. Its economy has also faced pressure from shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz linked to the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Rizwan Ahmed, a customs clearing agent near Gabd-Rimdan, said customs told agents to file declarations for stranded trucks. He stated that customs gave the go-ahead to bring in as much cargo as possible. He did not clarify if this applied to goods loaded after October 16. His own consignment of rice, retail goods, potatoes, and bananas has already left.

Iranian officials dispute that the border is fully open. Reza Amiri Moghadam, the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, wrote on X on Sunday that changes to Pakistan's E-Form procedure are preventing traders from dispatching cargo. The E-Form is required to record imports and their payment through banks. A memorandum from Pakistan's Commerce Ministry, dated October 16, withdrew a previous waiver for these forms. The change took effect immediately.

Security forces killed 10 gunmen who attacked trucks near the Gabd crossing on Thursday. One civilian also died. Balochistan saw 131 armed attacks in September, the highest monthly national total in 12 years. The Pakistani foreign minister's office said it adheres to all applicable sanctions regimes. It did not specify whether the United States pressured Pakistan to close the border. The Ministry of Commerce did not respond to requests for comment.