After decades of conflict and political uncertainty, 2025 marks a critical turning point for regional trade. With Afghanistan entering a period of relative stability, Pakistan is seeing the long-awaited revival of ancient trade routes that once connected South Asia to Central Asia, Russia, and beyond.

The Trade Routes That Were Lost – and Found Again

For decades, Pakistan’s land trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia was hampered by terrorism, insurgency, border closures, smuggling, and neglected infrastructure. Three major trade corridors were particularly affected:

• The Khyber Pass through Torkham (to Jalalabad and Kabul)

• The Chaman–Spin Boldak route (to Kandahar)

• The Ghulam Khan–Khost corridor (connecting North Waziristan with eastern Afghanistan)

As a result, formal trade between Pakistan and Central Asia remained minimal, with most cargo moving via the sea or through expensive detours. Inactive or insecure land routes meant lost opportunity, especially for industries in KP, Balochistan, and Punjab.

Why 2025 Is Different

Several developments have created the conditions for reopening and revitalizing these trade corridors:

• Relative political stability in Afghanistan with decreased large-scale conflict

• Bilateral trade agreements signed in late 2024 focusing on land transit facilitation

• Strengthened border infrastructure with scanning, customs automation, and security fencing

• Increased regional cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC)

Pakistan is now actively investing in dry ports, road upgrades, and integrated border management to capitalize on this opportunity.

Economic Benefits for Pakistan

Reactivating these land routes is more than just a geopolitical win – it’s an economic necessity. Analysts estimate that efficient use of Pakistan-Afghanistan transit corridors could:

• Boost Pakistan’s trade volume with Central Asia by up to $5 billion annually

• Cut transport costs by 35% compared to sea routes

• Create thousands of jobs in transport, logistics, and border services

• Reduce delivery time for regional exports by 3–5 days

For Pakistan’s exporters, especially in agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and cement, this renewed access means faster routes to growing Central Asian markets like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan.

IRTCoP’s Official Response

International Road transport Chamber of Pakistan (IRTCoP), tasked with overseeing trade route integration and development.

Officials also confirmed plans for a digital transit corridor tracking app launching in Q3 2025, along with a trilateral border trade policy framework involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan’s improving stability is not only a regional relief – it’s an economic door opening for Pakistan. By reclaiming its geographic destiny as a connector between South and Central Asia, Pakistan has a real shot at transforming its logistics sector, growing exports, and asserting itself as a trade hub in the new Eurasian economy. The forgotten trade routes are open once again — and this time, Pakistan is determined to keep them open.