ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has withdrawn most of its customs personnel from key Pak-Afghan border stations — Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda — citing serious security threats.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, the FBR confirmed that customs clearance for both imports and exports has been suspended at these border points since October 12, 2025, following unprovoked aggression from the Afghan side that endangered the safety of customs inspectors and staff.
As a result, Afghan transit cargo has also been halted. The majority of customs officials have temporarily reported back to headquarters, while a limited number of inspectors and sepoys remain stationed to resume operations once the situation stabilizes and trade routes reopen.
To minimize disruption, the Collectorates of the Northern Region have cleared import consignments that arrived before the border closures to help sustain the supply of essential goods.
According to the FBR, 363 import vehicles with Goods Declarations (GDs) filed have been processed at the affected stations. However, at Torkham — the busiest border post in the region — 255 export vehicles, 24 import vehicles, and nearly 200 others remain stranded along the Jamrud–Landi Kotal road.
Similarly, at the Chaman border, customs clearance has been suspended since October 15, 2025. Currently, five import and 25 export vehicles await clearance, while importers and exporters have refrained from filing GDs. Around 500 vehicles carrying Afghan transit trade cargo are also waiting to cross at Torkham and Chaman.
