When Borders Close, Ordinary Lives Break: The Human Cost Of Pak-Afghan Tensions

War is never confined to borders alone; its impact spreads into every sphere of ordinary people's lives. Business closures, obstacles in medical treatment, incomplete educational dreams, and shrinking job opportunities together create a situation whose effects linger for years.

The recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have once again hit ordinary citizens the hardest - people who have no role in political decisions or policymaking. Traders, patients, students, skilled workers, and laborers living in border areas are directly bearing the burden of this situation.

Senior journalist Tahir Khan told TNN that after trade routes were closed in October, commercial activities suffered a severe blow. According to him, Pakistan and Afghanistan are important trading markets for each other. During the first six months of last year, exports to Afghanistan increased by 16 percent, while overall Pakistani exports recorded a 33 percent improvement.

He added that nearly 40 percent of Pakistan's medicines were exported to Afghanistan, and many factories were linked to Afghan trade, providing employment to thousands of people. After the border closure, these activities were badly affected.

Also Read: Pakistan, Afghanistan Edge Toward Prolonged Border Confrontation

He further explained that Afghanistan also serves as a key route for Pakistan's access to Central Asia. Last year, kinnow exports worth around 110 million dollars were sent to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, and a similar target was expected this year. However, recent tensions have disrupted these plans.

At the economic level, exports have declined significantly, while electricity and gas projects that were supposed to pass through Afghanistan to Pakistan have also stalled.

This situation has negatively impacted both investment and employment.

According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce, border closures are causing an estimated loss of about 45 million dollars per month, putting additional pressure on the national economy. Border markets now stand deserted.

Residents of Landi Kotal say there are more than two thousand commercial centers in the market, with thousands of families dependent on them for their livelihoods. However, with routes closed, business activity has nearly come to a standstill. Locals demand that the economy be kept separate from political tensions to minimize losses for ordinary citizens.

The impact is not limited to large industries; home-based artisans are also suffering severely. Fatima from the Allahabad area of Swat has been embroidering traditional caps for thirty years. She says she used to support her household expenses through this craft, but now orders have almost disappeared, increasing her financial difficulties.

Ismat, a craftsman from Charbagh in Swat, says this skill is centuries old and these caps were once in demand in distant regions. In the past, even foreign personalities visited to observe this craft.

In this industry, men would prepare plain caps while women embroidered them. According to him, nearly 80 percent of the caps were exported to Afghanistan, but due to the trade halt, most craftsmen have abandoned the work. He notes that at one time, around one hundred shops in Charbagh were associated with this craft.

When Afghan trade was suspended in 2007, the business suffered greatly, and the recent closure has worsened the situation. Dozens of women and many men who worked in this sector are now unemployed.

Border tensions have also significantly affected the healthcare sector. According to Tahir Khan, thousands of Afghan citizens used to come to Pakistan for complex treatments such as cancer and heart diseases, while emergency patients also sought care in Pakistani hospitals.

In the current situation, their arrival has declined sharply. Due to a shortage of specialist doctors in Afghanistan, patients would travel to Pakistan for treatment, and large quantities of medicines were also exported there - a flow that is now disrupted.

The education sector has not remained untouched either. Many Afghan students used to come to Pakistan for better educational opportunities, but visa issues have almost halted their arrival.

Medical students in particular are struggling to complete their education. Over the past few years, Afghanistan has already faced a serious shortage of female doctors and nurses, and these educational barriers could place further strain on the healthcare system in the future.

A sense of insecurity has also grown in border areas. Shah Khalid Shah, a social activist from Bajaur district, said that in recent firing incidents in Mamond tehsil, two people were killed and seven injured, while several houses were damaged.

He said that although the situation has relatively returned to normal after government measures, concerns remain among residents. He urged that issues be resolved through dialogue to prevent further loss of life. According to locals in Bajaur, several educational institutions were temporarily closed due to security concerns.

Ultimately, it is ordinary people who bear the heaviest burden of border tensions. When trade stops, jobs disappear; when visas are suspended, doors to education close; and when routes are blocked, patients are deprived of treatment.

People in border regions want solutions through dialogue and negotiations so that trade, education, and healthcare can resume - and life can return to normal once again.

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