LPG Trucks Move After Border Halt

Cargo traffic restarted at two major border crossings in Balochistan province on Monday, ending a nine-day suspension of trade between Pakistan and Iran. The halt began on October 17 when Islamabad paused cargo movement through Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan due to security risks. 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 goods to move again after the pause.

Haji Noor Muhammad Shahwani, central president of the Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association, confirmed from Quetta that Pakistani exports such as rice and bananas are crossing into Iran. Trucks loaded in Iran before the closure, including those carrying liquefied petroleum gas, are entering Pakistan. Shahwani noted that these vehicles are clearing slowly. Rizwan Ahmed, a customs clearing agent near Gabd-Rimdan, said customs told agents to file declarations for stranded trucks. He described his own shipment of rice, retail goods, potatoes, and bananas as having just departed the crossing.

Iranian officials point to administrative hurdles rather than physical blockades as the current bottleneck. Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, stated that changes to the E-Form procedure for imports are preventing traders from dispatching cargo. The Commerce Ministry issued a memorandum on October 16 that withdrew a previous waiver for this import documentation system. The form is designed to record imports and their payment through banks. Moghadam said consultations are ongoing and that several hundred LPG trucks have crossed into Gabd but remain unloading.

The security context for the closure includes a recent attack on trucks near the Gabd crossing on Thursday. Pakistani military forces reported killing 10 attackers in operations around Gabd and Gwadar city, with one civilian killed. Balochistan recorded 131 armed attacks in September, the highest monthly national total in 12 years according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. The deputy commissioner of Chagai described the closure as a temporary measure to improve border management and support counterterrorism efforts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Pakistan adheres to all applicable sanctions regimes.

Pakistan mediates between Washington and Tehran since the conflict began in late February. The US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and economic sanctions to cut off revenue streams. Imtiaz Baloch, a security analyst, said the US policy of maximum pressure influences the situation directly or indirectly through banking and trading channels. He noted that security, technical procedures, and the banking system are all involved in the current trade flow. The Ministry of Commerce did not respond to requests for comment on the status of the border.