Pakistan blocks Afghan fruit import via Iran amid border closures

The government has foiled an attempt to import Afghan-origin fresh fruits through Iran to circumvent the suspension of bilateral trade, as over 5,500 Afghan transit containers are stranded in Pakistan due to the closure of international borders. The growing number of Afghanistan-bound cargo stuck in Pakistan despite the closure of international borders after recent skirmishes highlights Kabul's dependence on Pakistan, even as it seeks alternative trade routes. Meanwhile, to protect Central Asian Republics from disruptions in international trade via Afghanistan, Pakistan has decided to allow Uzbekistan to airlift five cargoes and reroute 29 containers through China under an international convention signed by all regional countries.