Afghanistan Is in No Rush to Reopen Routes with Pakistan; This Time, Our Conditions Are Not Ordinary

For decades, Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained connected through trade and transit, yet recent years have clearly shown that this relationship largely worked to Pakistan’s advantage and to Afghanistan’s detriment. When Pakistan closed trade routes under political pressure, security pretexts, and seasonal decisions, the assumption in Islamabad was that Afghanistan would suffer severe economic damage, its markets would be paralyzed, the afghani would lose its value, and the government would be forced to accept any conditions imposed on it. However, the passage of time proved this calculation to be wrong. Afghanistan did not suffer any significant economic harm, while Pakistan itself incurred losses amounting to billions of dollars.
The closure of the routes became an important economic lesson for Afghanistan. The experience once again confirmed that complete dependence on a single neighboring country—especially one that uses trade as a tool of pressure—is a major strategic mistake. This very closure pushed Afghanistan to search for alternative routes, seriously focus on self-reliance, and take practical steps toward economic independence. Trade relations with Central Asian countries expanded, alternative routes through the south and west were activated, and relatively greater attention was given to domestic production. Although these changes were not easy, the outcome was clear: Afghanistan gradually broke free from the monopoly that had been imposed on it for years.
In contrast, the route closures inflicted heavy damage on Pakistan. The disruption of Afghanistan’s transit trade through Karachi Port, losses suffered by Pakistani transport companies, stagnation in warehousing activities, a decline in exports, and the erosion of trust are realities that severely hit Pakistan’s economy. Afghan traders no longer relied on Pakistan as they once did; they redirected their capital to other routes, a shift that translates into long-term revenue losses for Pakistan. This is precisely why Pakistan is now repeatedly calling for the reopening of routes and attempting to push Afghanistan back into the old arrangement.
But Afghanistan today is no longer the Afghanistan of the past. The country has come to realize that economic independence is not merely a slogan; it is a condition for survival. The closure of routes demonstrated that although difficulties arise, solutions do exist. As a result of this experience, Afghanistan understood that trade must be regulated on the basis of mutual respect, clear rules, and long-term guarantees, rather than emotions or seasonal pressure tactics.
This is exactly why Afghanistan is in no rush today to reopen routes with Pakistan. This time, the demands and conditions are not ordinary. Afghanistan does not want to return to a situation where its economy could be attacked every time a single gate was closed. If the routes are to be reopened, it must be done with prudence, full consideration of national interests, and within a framework of strict conditions. These conditions must include guarantees for the dignity of traders, the safety of goods, the prevention of unjustified delays, the non-use of political pressure, and the sustainability of trade.
Afghanistan is now in a position to say clearly: we are not in a hurry. Our markets did not collapse, our economy did not fall apart, and our people did not surrender under pressure. On the contrary, this closure marked the beginning of a transformation in our economic thinking. We realized that strengthening domestic production, activating alternative routes, and expanding regional cooperation serve our national interest. This is a lesson Afghanistan will not forget.
If Pakistan genuinely wants trade routes to be reopened, it must understand that the old game no longer works. The policy of pressure has lost its effectiveness. Afghanistan seeks engagement as an equal partner, not as a subordinate. If this principle is not accepted, Afghanistan has no problem waiting. Time has proven that patience and prudence have worked in our favor, and this approach will continue.
In conclusion, Afghanistan’s position is clear: economic independence is our priority. If trade routes with Pakistan are to be reopened, they must be based on mutual benefits, transparency, and firm principles. This time, the demands and conditions are not ordinary, because Afghanistan has now moved beyond the stage of inexperience and has entered a phase shaped by lessons learned, awareness gained, and independent thinking.