Pakistan halts border trade with Iran at key Balochistan crossings

Pakistan has stopped trade with Iran at the Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan border crossings in Balochistan province. Al Jazeera reported that the decision emerged on Saturday, leaving freight stranded on both sides of the border. Reports from Dawn, TodayPress.tv, and Gulf News also confirmed that key trade routes between the two countries have been closed. [1][2][4][5]

About 2,000 trucks are currently stuck on both sides of the border, according to the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the provincial capital. Al Jazeera reported that passenger traffic has continued at the Gabd-Rimdan crossing, citing the Iranian news agency WANA. Authorities from Pakistan and Iran have provided conflicting reasons for the halt. [1]

Islamabad has cited security concerns and smuggling, whereas Tehran pointed to technical issues as the reason for the border closure, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn. Pakistan's federal government has not publicly commented on the suspension, and officials in Balochistan did not respond to requests for comment. [1][2]

The border closure comes during broader regional instability. Coordinated United States and Israeli strikes on Iran occurred earlier in 2026, leading several neighboring nations to mobilize their militaries to secure borders and maritime trade across the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean. [7][9]