August 06, 2021
Spin Boldak, a major crossing point for Afghanistan’s travel and trade with Pakistan was closed by Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgents today. The Taliban were able to take hold of almost seven border districts including Torghundi (neighboring Turkmenistan), Islam Qila (neighboring Iran), Sher Bandar (neighboring Tajikistan), Wakhan (neighboring China), and Spin Boldak (neighboring Pakistan). The closure of almost all the trade crossing points of the landlocked Afghanistan has cost the Afghan government tens of millions of dollars in revenues.
The unforeseen closure of the busy Spin Boldak crossing into the southwestern Pakistani town of Chaman has suspended the trade activities and stranded several travelers and trucks carrying commercial goods in both directions, according to traders.
The Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, attributed the move to the allegation that the Afghan travelers are mistreated by the Pakistani side stating that “They (Pakistan) open the border gate only for two, three hours during the entire day for people traveling from Afghanistan, including patients, (Afghan) refugees, traders and others.” Furthermore, he demanded Pakistan to end the alleged ill-treatment of the Afghan travelers and ease other restrictions as well, along with opening the border route for the entire day as has been the case in the past, arguing it was not possible for such a large number of people to cross over in limited hours. He added that the border will remain closed until the Pakistani authorities accept these demands.
Though Pakistani officials have not yet commented on the Taliban’s move, Imran Khan Kakar, a senior member of the Pak-Afghan chamber of commerce in Chaman has acknowledged that around 700 trucks and 2,000 people are stuck on both sides of the border, and that the Pakistani border officials are going to meet the Taliban representatives to discuss the issue later in the day.
It must be kept in mind that Pakistan sealed the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing after the Afghan insurgent group seized control of it earlier in July, halting all trade and traffic through the usually busy crossroads in the region. The facility was partially reopened on humanitarian grounds in the last week by Pakistan to allow travelers and trade convoys stranded on both sides of the border to resume their journey.
The Taliban’s move of capturing of Spin Boldak and surrounding districts of the embattled Afghan province of Kandahar, fueled Pakistan’s tensions with the Afghan government, because though Pakistan considers the Afghan government as the only legitimate party in Afghanistan, it is often accused of backing Taliban.
The news of Afghan Taliban having taken over Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz province near Iran, the security situation in Afghanistan seems to be getting increasingly unstable, because Milak-Zaranj was the only functional trade crossing point of the three border crossing points between Afghanistan and Iran. The closure of borders at such a time is a critical issue, as it doesn’t only carry economic significance for the respective countries, but also drives the political and diplomatic relations between them. If the Taliban keep on taking over the country at the same pace, they’ll be able to succeed in handicapping the Afghan government, by hijacking the economy, and hence will be able to assert their influence on the government.
© Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Afghan Studies Center (ASC), Islamabad.
