Pakistan halts trade with Iran at two Balochistan border crossings

Pakistan has halted trade with Iran through its two official border crossings in Balochistan province, Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan, since Saturday, 17 October, media reported. Media reports said the Ministry of Commerce issued a memorandum withdrawing an earlier order dated 3 October, without giving a reason for the decision.

Officials say the step is temporary. Chagai Deputy Commissioner Bakhtiar Ismail told the media the crossings were closed for security reasons and to improve border management in support of counter-terrorism efforts. Shahid Rind, an adviser to Balochistan's chief minister, said the aim was to address security concerns and curb smuggling, and that the border was likely to reopen soon as talks between senior officials of the two countries make progress. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also called the suspension temporary and linked it to "technical issues".

The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry said around 2,000 trucks were stranded on both sides and advised traders to stop placing new orders with Iran. Abdul Ghafoor Hoot, head of a traders' union at Gabd, told the media that about 500 trucks normally bring goods from Iran each day through that crossing alone, with a similar number heading the other way. Media reported that more than 4,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) a day entered Pakistan through Gabd-Rimdan, raising fears of worse gas shortages in Karachi.

Hossein Hosseini, head of Iran's transit office, said passengers can still cross at Gabd-Rimdan, while media reported that the immigration gate at Taftan had been closed on instructions from Islamabad. Separately, Pakistan's information ministry rejected social media claims that the US navy was using Pakistani waters for operations against Iran.