Attari-Wagah border opens for Afghan trucks stranded in Pakistan; 5 cross over

“Afghanistan authorities have requested Indian Ministry of External Affairs for facilitation of 162 freight trucks (copy of list enclosed) meant for export to India from Afghanistan which are currently stuck in Pakistan,” read the letter.

The letter further adds, “In this regard it is intimated that the Government of India has given necessary permission to allow the aforementioned 162 trucks into India through Wagah-Attari Border. It is further intimated that Indian Customs have made necessary arrangements to facilitate the movement of cargo in aforesaid 162 trucks. This is for information and further necessary action at your end”.

On Thursday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held his first-ever conversation with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and underlined India’s traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continuing support for their development needs.

Mukesh Sidhwani, a dry fruit trader from Amritsar, welcomed the development. “The trucks have started crossing over. So far, five trucks have crossed. This is a huge relief. The goods are semi-perishable, and every day’s delay translates into massive losses,” he said.

Nearly 90 per cent of India’s trade with Afghanistan is routed through the Attari-Wagah border, which is also the only land link allowed for trade between India and Pakistan.

“On average, around 40–50 trucks cross over to India. However, the situation is different now. There is high tension between both nations, and truck clearance and checking may take more time than the ordinary business days. We are hoping that all trucks will cross over into India in a week,” Sidhwani said.

Trade stakeholders also flagged the broader economic implications. “Thousands of people in Punjab, especially Amritsar, depend on this trade — porters, drivers, customs agents, and dhaba owners. The ICP is a major investment. Leaving it unused hurts everyone,” Sidhwani said.

Pakistan had suspended trade with India, including to and from any third country through its territory, on April 24 in response to the restrictions imposed by India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, most of them tourists.

After the terror attack, India had shut down the ICP at Attari, effectively putting a halt on cross-border trade worth Rs 3,886 crore with Pakistan. India currently carries out trade with Afghanistan only via the Attari-Wagah border.

The land route was first opened in 2005, and truck movement began in 2007. The ICP at Attari was inaugurated on April 13, 2012, under the then UPA government, with provisions for facilities for fast and cost-effective land trade. Trade and passenger movement via the Attari land port has seen significant fluctuations over the last seven years.

According to official data, passenger movement across the border declined significantly over the last few years: from 80,314 crossings in 2017–18 and 78,675 crossings in 2019–20, the numbers fell drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic, plummeting to just 6,177 in 2020–21. The figures gradually improved to 71,563 crossings in 2023–24, though still below pre-pandemic levels.

Cargo movement via Attari followed a similar trend. From over 48,000 cargo movements in 2017–18 and 2018–19, the numbers fell drastically in the following years, dropping to 6,655 in 2019–20 and further down to 3,827 in 2022–23. In 2023–24, cargo movement rose slightly to 6,871, indicating a partial resumption of trade activity.