Pakistan Suspends Iran Border Trade: What Happened at Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan
Pakistan has temporarily suspended trade with Iran through its two main official border crossings, stranding hundreds of freight vehicles and raising fears of fuel shortages and rising prices. The Ministry of Commerce issued a memorandum on Friday withdrawing its earlier trade order with immediate effect, halting commercial movement through the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan crossings in Balochistan province.
The sudden suspension has left more than 2,000 containers stranded at Gabd-Rimdan alone, while long queues of trucks carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), rice, fresh fruit and other essential commodities wait on both sides of the 909-kilometre border between Pakistan’s Balochistan and Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan provinces.
Security and Smuggling Concerns Behind Pakistan Suspends Iran Border Trade
Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media and political affairs, said the temporary closure was necessary to address security concerns, prevent smuggling and make the border management system more effective. He described the move as essential for improving the security situation and administrative affairs on both sides of the border.
Rind also used a statement on X to dismiss what he called rumours circulating on social media about the closure, urging the public to rely only on verified information. He confirmed that senior officials from both countries were continuing talks to resolve administrative issues and restore commercial operations.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also described the closure as temporary, but attributed the disruption to technical issues rather than security concerns. He said the two countries were holding consultations to resolve the problem and resume normal trade operations.
Thousands of Trucks Stranded at Iran Border Crossings
The impact on the ground has been severe. Hundreds of freight vehicles loaded with LPG, rice, fruits and essential goods are stuck at the crossings, with traders warning of substantial financial losses. The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) has advised its members and all businesses involved in trade with Iran to stop placing fresh import and export orders until further notice.
The QCCI said commercial activities stood suspended across all border crossings between Pakistan and Iran, not just the two named in the government notification. Pakistan and Iran share four official border crossings at Taftan-Mirjaveh, Gabd-Rimdan, Mand and Chadgi, and trade through all of them has been affected.
Passenger movement, however, has not been completely halted. Iran’s WANA news agency reported that passenger traffic through the Rimdan-Gabd crossing remained operational, with only commercial freight operations suspended.
LPG Shortage Fears as 4,000 Tonnes Daily Supply Halted
The most urgent concern is energy supply. The Gabd-Rimdan crossing had become a major route for meeting Pakistan’s energy needs, with more than 4,000 tonnes of LPG imported daily through it. Trade and energy sector sources have warned that the closure could aggravate LPG shortages in Karachi and other parts of the country.
The Taftan route was already facing disruptions amid unrest in Balochistan. With supplies through Gabd-Rimdan now also suspended, traders fear LPG prices could rise sharply in the open market, hitting households and businesses that depend on the fuel.
At the same time, Pakistan’s exports to Iran, particularly rice, had surged in recent months, generating millions of dollars in foreign exchange. Local traders and the chamber have warned that the disruption could cause not only substantial losses to the national exchequer but also jeopardise the livelihoods of thousands of people dependent on cross-border trade.
When Will Pakistan Iran Border Trade Resume?
Officials on both sides have signalled that the suspension is temporary. Rind said that given the current progress in talks, the Pak-Iran border was likely to reopen soon, with a coordinated system being established to improve border management and prevent smuggling.
He added that better border management would ultimately facilitate trade and bring stability to border communities. Iranian officials have echoed the temporary nature of the closure, with consultations ongoing between the two countries.
For now, however, traders remain in limbo. With thousands of containers stranded and daily losses mounting, business communities on both sides are pressing for a swift resolution. The coming days will show whether the promised talks deliver a reopening or whether the suspension drags on, deepening the economic pain.
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