Trucks resume limited flow at Pakistan-Iran border after security halt

Pakistan and Iran have begun moving limited cargo across their shared border in Balochistan province, ending a nine-day suspension that caused energy shortages in Pakistan. Trade restarted on Monday, with officials confirming that goods are once again crossing the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan checkpoints.

Islamabad suspended cargo traffic on October 17, citing security risks in the region. Mir Naveed Jan Kalmati, president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that trade partially resumed over the weekend. Border officials cleared consignments dated October 16 or earlier, allowing trucks that had been loaded before the closure to enter Pakistan.

Haji Noor Muhammad Shahwani, central president of the Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association, confirmed that Pakistani exports including rice and bananas are crossing the border. He also noted that Iranian trucks loaded with liquefied petroleum gas before the halt are now clearing through, though he described the process as slow.

The pause in Iranian LPG imports led to severe shortages and price spikes in Pakistan, a country that relies heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports. The economic strain coincided with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the conflict between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance.

Despite the partial reopening, Iranian officials claim that changes to Pakistan’s import paperwork are holding up cargo. Reza Amiri Moghadam, the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, wrote on X on Sunday that Iran had not placed restrictions on exports. He argued that changes to the implementation of Pakistan’s E-Form procedure for imports have made it difficult for traders to dispatch cargo.

The E-Form, or EIF, is used to record imports and bank payments. A memorandum from Pakistan’s Commerce Ministry dated October 16 withdrew a previous waiver for this form, effective immediately. Moghadam stated that consultations between the two countries are underway.

Security concerns in Balochistan also played a role in the initial closure. Gunmen attacked trucks near the Gabd crossing on Thursday, killing 10 attackers and one civilian, according to the Pakistani military. Balochistan recorded 131 armed attacks in September, the highest monthly total in 12 years, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

Bakhtiar Ismail, deputy commissioner of Chagai in Balochistan, described the closure as a temporary measure to improve border management and support counterterrorism efforts. Meanwhile, customs agent Rizwan Ahmed said authorities told him to bring in as much cargo as possible, though he did not clarify if this applied to goods loaded after October 16.

Sajjad Haider Khan, spokesman for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country continues to adhere to applicable sanctions regimes. He did not specify whether the United States had pressured Pakistan to close the border or confirm the current status of the crossing. The Ministry of Commerce did not respond to requests for comment.