China Establishes New Administrative Unit Near Afghan Border

Sanaullah Abro, a Pakistani customs official, told the Express Tribune on Monday that the initial shipment, consisting of meat, was transported to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in refrigerated trucks.

He said that under the corridor, Pakistani exports will be routed through Gwadar and Iran to Central Asian countries.

Abro added that the corridor’s activation would not only boost Pakistan’s economic growth but also increase traffic at its ports.

Before the launch of the new route, Pakistan used to send part of its exports to Central Asia via Afghanistan.

Following border clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistan, Islamabad closed the Torkham and Chaman crossings in October 2025.

The closure of these crossings and the halt in trade have pushed the Taliban to expand commercial ties with neighbouring countries, particularly Iran and Uzbekistan.

The prolonged closure has caused significant economic losses for traders in both countries.

They accused the Taliban of neglecting the situation, saying a “human catastrophe” will occur if food is not delivered by air.

According to them, roads to these districts have been closed for nearly two months, blocking travel and the transport of goods. They say the Taliban have neither reopened the routes nor built alternative roads as promised.

Residents said all available food supplies in local markets have been exhausted, warning of a lack of wheat and a severe shortage of medicine in health centers.

One elder told Afghanistan International: “If this situation continues, a deadly humanitarian disaster is on the way.” He added that some patients have recently died due to the lack of medicine.

Residents also said heavy snow along the routes makes building alternative roads difficult and time-consuming.

They noted that reopening the route from Nari district in Kunar to Kamdesh and Barg-e Matal would require the establishment of three security posts, which the Taliban have not set up.

Local sources said earlier that the route via Bari Kot village in Nari district remains closed due to Pakistani gunfire.

The UN’s humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) has also confirmed that residents lack access to urgent aid, as the route remains inaccessible due to cross-border firing.

Taliban officials in Kunar have not yet commented on the strikes. Previously, the group reported Pakistani attacks in Paktika, while residents in Khost also reported similar incidents.

The attacks come after talks between Pakistani officials and Taliban representatives in Urumqi, China, ended without result on April 1. Earlier rounds of negotiations mediated by Qatar, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia had also failed.

The main sticking point in the talks remains the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan. Islamabad says the group launches attacks from Afghan territory, an accusation the Taliban deny.

Pakistan has called on the Taliban to expel Pakistani militants from Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s disaster management authority said on Saturday, April 11, that since the start of the month, at least 238 people have been injured and nine killed due to rain, flooding, earthquakes and landslides.

Figures from the agency show that around 1,400 homes have been fully or partially destroyed, and thousands of acers of farmland have been lost.

Taj Mohammad Hemat, deputy spokesman of the Taliban’s disaster management authority, said more than 8,000 families have been affected by recent disasters, and over 18,000 livestock have died.

Speaking at an online memorial on Saturday, April 11, for members of Afghanistan’s Freedom Front, Massoud said: “The only way to make proper use of opportunities is coordination.”

He rejected claims that the Taliban have no alternative, saying such narratives are part of a strategy to suggest that without them, there would be chaos and war.

He added that political groups share consensus on key principles and pointed to recent meetings among Taliban opponents as proof that unity is possible.

Massoud also referred to developments in Iran, saying one of the key lessons was the importance of unity during times of conflict.

He concluded: “Our greatest strength is not countries, aircraft or weapons, but our people. The public must not lose hope, grow weary or fall into conspiracies.”