By S.M. Inam
ISLAMABAD: Karachi port has long served as the fastest and cheapest route for Afghanistan’s imports and exports, with goods typically moving from Kabul to Karachi in three to four days. The average cost of transporting a single container along this route is about USD 2,000.
According to Afghan media, Afghan traders are facing mounting financial and logistical problems after cross-border commercial traffic through Pakistan remained suspended for a second month, cutting off what many consider the country’s most efficient trade corridor.
By contrast, Afghan broadcasters reported that shipments sent via Iran’s Chabahar port take seven to eight days to reach Kabul and cost roughly USD 4,000 per container. Chabahar, they said, is not only twice as expensive but also adds at least four extra days to delivery timelines. Northern overland routes—from Afghanistan to Russia or the Black Sea—can take anywhere from 15 to 25 days, significantly slowing trade and raising costs.
Air corridors remain technically viable, but Afghan media noted that high freight charges make them impractical for most exporters, particularly for bulk goods. For now, they said, Karachi remains the only route that is cost-effective and able to handle the scale of Afghanistan’s trade flows.
Traders quoted in Afghan reports warned that unless Pakistan reopens the border soon, supply chains will deteriorate further, disrupting deliveries and eroding already thin profit margins. They cautioned that prolonged disruptions could push some businesses to the brink, deepening economic strain in a country already grappling with severe financial instability.
