A prominent Pashtun tribal jirga has called for the immediate reopening of the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman, warning that the prolonged closure is triggering a severe humanitarian and economic crisis. The border has remained closed since violent clashes erupted in October, leaving thousands of Pakistani citizens, including traders, transport workers, and ordinary travellers, stranded in precarious conditions across Afghanistan.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, tribal elders Amanullah Khan and Malik Abdul Khaliq Lala Ghabizai described the situation as “alarming and unsustainable.” They said that the border closure has paralysed formal trade for more than two months, effectively halting the commercial lifeline of the border town and leaving businesses and families struggling to survive.
“The economic cost is enormous,” Amanullah Khan said. “Thousands of trucks carrying goods and personal belongings remain stuck, drivers are without income, and their families are facing extreme hardship. The government must act immediately.”
The elders also highlighted the plight of Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan. Many had crossed the border legally with valid passports and visas, but with weeks turning into months, travel documents have now expired for a growing number, complicating their eventual repatriation. Malik Ghabizai warned that continued delays could escalate into a full-scale humanitarian emergency, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
The impact extends beyond stranded travellers. The logistics sector, which supports much of the local economy, has been severely disrupted. Drivers and cleaners report acute shortages of food, water, and basic amenities. Without a source of income for over sixty days, many families are being pushed into extreme poverty.
The jirga also criticised the security apparatus along the Quetta-Chaman highway, citing the presence of 22 separate checkpoints. Elders claimed that travellers and residents are routinely subjected to extortion and humiliation, adding to the hardships already caused by the border closure. “These checkpoints are unnecessary and are causing more harm than security,” said Malik Ghabizai. “We urge the government to remove these barriers and allow residents to travel freely within their own districts.”
In a move to amplify pressure on provincial and federal authorities, the jirga announced a three-day Pashtun National Jirga. This assembly will provide a high-level platform to discuss systemic issues facing residents of Chaman and neighbouring districts, to find lasting solutions to economic stagnation, mobility restrictions, and the humanitarian crisis.
The jirga concluded with a stern warning: if the border remains closed and the checkpoints are not addressed, the growing sense of alienation among the local population could spark wider civil unrest in border regions. Tribal leaders stressed that swift government action is essential to prevent the situation from deteriorating further and to restore confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.