Afghanistan has no coastline. Everything it imports by sea has to cross somebody else's territory first, and for decades the shortest and cheapest way in has been through Pakistan. Goods land at Karachi, cross the country by road, and reach Afghan buyers at the border.

For exporters and traders in the UAE, this is a familiar corridor. Dubai's ports are a short sailing from Karachi, and a lot of Afghan-bound cargo passes through Jebel Ali first. But this route runs on specific customs rules, and it has been unusually unstable lately. Here is how it works when it works, and what to check before you commit cargo to it.

What "Transit Trade" Means Here

Transit cargo is goods that pass through a country without being sold or used there. Pakistan doesn't collect import duty on Afghan-bound goods, because they're meant to leave. In exchange, customs keeps tight control over the goods from the port to the border, so nothing slips into the Pakistani market untaxed.

The rules come from the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) of 2010, which replaced an older agreement dating back to 1965. It sets out which ports and routes are allowed, how goods must be documented and secured, and what obligations apply to carriers and traders.

The Usual Route

Most Afghan transit cargo follows a similar path.

1. Ocean leg. The cargo is shipped by sea, often via Jebel Ali or another hub, to Karachi Port or Port Qasim.
2. Port clearance for transit. Rather than clearing the goods for local consumption, the agent files a transit declaration, so no duty is charged.
3. Road leg. Sealed containers or loaded trucks travel under customs control from Karachi to a border crossing.
4. Border exit. The goods leave Pakistan at Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or at Chaman in Balochistan, the two main international crossings.
5. Afghan customs. On the Afghan side, the cargo is cleared by Afghan customs and released to the consignee.

Each stage has its own paperwork, and each is a place where cargo can get stuck.

How Customs Handles the Cargo in Pakistan

Pakistan Customs processes transit declarations through its electronic clearance system, and the cargo is tracked and sealed on the way. The main elements are these.

A transit declaration. It identifies the goods, the consignee in Afghanistan, the carrier, and the exit point. It has to match the bill of lading and the invoice.

Sealing and tracking. Containers are sealed under customs supervision, and vehicles are typically fitted with tracking devices so their movement can be monitored. Breaking a seal or leaving the approved route can bring penalties and can make the goods liable for duty.

Guarantees. Transit cargo usually needs a financial guarantee, such as a bank or insurance guarantee, covering the duty that would apply if the goods were diverted into the local market. The guarantee is released once the goods are confirmed to have exited.

Registered carriers. Only approved transporters can carry transit cargo, and drivers and vehicles are documented.

Restrictions on certain goods. Some categories are subject to limits or extra approvals, so confirm your product isn't affected before shipping.

The exact procedures, guarantee amounts, and rules on goods change from time to time, so treat this as a general picture and confirm details with a licensed customs agent in Pakistan.

Documents You'll Need

• Commercial invoice and packing list
• Bill of lading naming the Afghan consignee, or the appropriate transit consignee
• Transit or goods declaration filed by the Pakistani clearing agent
• Import authorization or trade documents of the Afghan buyer
• Delivery order from the shipping line
• Guarantee documents, where required
• Certificate of origin, if the buyer needs one
• Permits for regulated goods

If you're shipping from Dubai, make sure the paperwork issued in the UAE lines up with the documents used in Pakistan. A mismatch between the invoice and the bill of lading is one of the most common reasons transit cargo gets held.

What Slows Cargo Down

Even in normal times, this corridor has a reputation for delays. The usual causes:

• Documentation errors. Wrong consignee names, unclear cargo descriptions, and inconsistent weights.
• Port dwell time. Containers sitting at Karachi past their free days, which triggers storage and demurrage.
• Border queues. Trucks waiting at Torkham or Chaman for clearance on either side.
• Inspections and scanning. Random checks that add days.
• Security conditions. Road security and escort requirements in some regions.
• Border closures. Political or security events can shut a crossing with little warning.

That last item has become the biggest risk factor in recent months.

The Current Situation: Border Closures

Anyone shipping on this route right now needs to know that the corridor has been badly disrupted. Pakistan and Afghanistan shut their borders in mid-October 2025 after fighting between the two countries, leaving trucks stranded near Torkham. Over roughly ten months, Torkham and Chaman were repeatedly closed because of border skirmishes, political friction, and stricter visa and document requirements for truck drivers, leaving hundreds of freight vehicles stuck at the border for weeks. Traders reported paying daily demurrage on vehicles and goods that couldn't move. Some Afghan traders said their vehicles were stranded in Pakistan and they were paying daily demurrage fees. 

There have been signs of movement recently. Reports in early August 2026 said Pakistan had decided to reopen transit and trade routes, but traders in Landi Kotal were warning of protests if practical steps weren't taken to actually reopen them. More recently, Pakistan has said it is ready to reopen its crossings and restore transit trade. Whether that has fully translated into normal commercial traffic is something to verify directly, because the situation has shifted more than once. 

The closures have also pushed traders to look elsewhere. Afghanistan has been building alternative commercial corridors through Central Asia and Iran, and trade with Central Asian countries has been rising while trade with Pakistan collapsed after the October 2025 clashes. For UAE-based shippers, that means the Pakistan route is no longer the automatic first choice it once was, and alternatives via Iran or Central Asia come with their own costs, transit times, and compliance issues, including sanctions considerations that need careful checking.

Practical Steps Before You Ship

1. Confirm the crossing is open to commercial cargo. Don't rely on general news. Ask your Pakistani agent whether Torkham or Chaman is currently processing trade traffic.
2. Ask about your cargo's status. If a border closes mid-journey, where does the container wait, and who pays for storage and detention?
3. Check free days and detention terms with the shipping line. Extra time at Karachi can be expensive.
4. Get a written quote that covers delay scenarios. Ask how demurrage, detention, and truck waiting charges are handled.
5. Insure the cargo, and check that your policy covers extended transit and delays.
6. Get payment terms in order. With a route this unpredictable, avoid arrangements where you're exposed for weeks with no cash.
7. Have a fallback plan. Know what the alternative route would cost and how long it would take.

Working With a Provider

Transit cargo to Afghanistan calls for a partner who knows the corridor on both ends, from the ocean booking to the Pakistani clearing agent to the last leg into Afghanistan. A Dubai-based provider such as Noble Line Logistics LLC can coordinate the sea leg from the UAE and work with agents on the ground in Pakistan, and can tell you honestly whether the route is workable at the moment or whether you'd be better off waiting or rerouting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay Pakistani import duty on Afghan transit cargo?
Generally not, because the goods are in transit. But a guarantee is usually required to cover the duty if the cargo doesn't leave the country.

Which ports and border crossings are used?
Cargo normally arrives at Karachi or Port Qasim, then exits through Torkham or Chaman.

Can I ship from Dubai directly to Karachi and onward?
Yes, that's a common pattern, with cargo moving by sea from the UAE to Karachi and then by road under transit rules.

Why is Afghan transit cargo sometimes stuck at Karachi?
Documentation problems, guarantee issues, and closed or restricted border crossings are the usual causes. Long waits lead to storage and demurrage charges.

Is the route open right now?
It has been repeatedly disrupted since October 2025, and the situation has been changing. Confirm the current status with your agent before booking.

Are there alternatives to the Pakistan route?
Yes, including routes through Iran and Central Asia, but each has different costs, timelines, and regulatory concerns. Sanctions and payment restrictions need particular care on Iran-linked routes.