The Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for the immediate reopening of the Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, saying its prolonged closure has caused billions of dollars in losses. 

Speaking at a press conference in Landi Kotal on Thursday, chamber president Yousuf Afridi urged Pakistan to keep bilateral trade separate from political issues.

Afridi said the border had been closed for almost a year, affecting thousands of traders, transporters, labourers, shopkeepers and customs clearing agents. He accused the federal government of failing to fulfil its commitments to review border policies, promote bilateral trade and address security concerns.

He said Pakistan had so far suffered an estimated $2.5 billion in losses, including $1.64 billion in exports and $817 million in imports. A further Rs7.7 billion had reportedly been lost in provincial cess revenue due to the closure.

Afridi also criticised Pakistan for failing to hold a promised meeting with business representatives on resolving border issues and restoring trade with Afghanistan.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund says Afghanistan can achieve intellectual, political and economic independence by expanding domestic production, developing key infrastructure and strengthening scientific capacity.

Baradar made the remarks on Thursday in Kabul during a ceremony to launch the rehabilitation plan for the Sana-e-Sabz Industrial Park.

He described the industrial park as one of Afghanistan’s major industrial zones, saying its development would pave the way for hundreds of new factories and create jobs for thousands of people.

Baradar urged the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and officials overseeing the Green Industries Industrial Park to complete the rehabilitation project according to required standards.

He also highlighted plans to establish the Afghanistan Islamic Culture Printing and Publishing Production Center at the park, saying it would help meet domestic demand for paper and reduce reliance on imports.

According to Baradar, the center’s printing and publishing of scholarly works would also contribute to preserving Afghanistan’s Islamic and cultural heritage while promoting self-sufficiency in the sector.

The Sana-e-Sabz Industrial Park covers 8,200 jeribs of land and currently houses 120 factories, with investment in the park estimated at around $800 million.

Japan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have launched a $9.4 million initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable communities affected by Afghanistan’s drug economy.

The two-year project, funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will run from September 2026 to September 2028 in Badakhshan, Badghis, Helmand, Kandahar and Takhar provinces.

A grant agreement for the initiative, titled “Strengthening Counternarcotics Capacities for Vulnerable People,” was signed in Kabul on Thursday. Japan has allocated JPY 1.488 billion, approximately $9.4 million, for the project.

The initiative will focus on rural communities that previously depended on poppy cultivation for their livelihoods, while expanding prevention and treatment services for people affected by or at risk of drug use.

UNODC said about 8,000 former poppy-growing households, representing an estimated 56,000 people, are expected to benefit from alternative livelihood programmes.

A further 45,000 people affected by or at risk of drug use are expected to receive support through prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services.

The project builds on a previous counternarcotics programme implemented by UNODC with JICA support between 2024 and 2026.

Japan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Kenichi Masamoto, said counternarcotics was an area where Afghanistan and the international community shared common interests and responsibilities.

He said sustainable progress depended on Afghan ownership supported by constructive international cooperation, and welcomed continued dialogue through the Doha Process as a platform for cooperation and confidence-building.

JICA Chief Representative for Afghanistan Sota Tosaka said the agency would build on its longstanding partnership with UNODC to expand opportunities for vulnerable communities to establish sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their resilience and self-reliance.

UNODC Country Representative for Afghanistan Polleak Ok Serei said Japan’s continued support was important in addressing the challenges posed by illicit drug economies and drug use.

He said the project’s combination of alternative livelihoods, drug-use prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and international cooperation would support practical and sustainable solutions for healthier and more resilient communities.

The initiative will also contribute to the objectives of the Doha Process Counternarcotics Working Group, which seeks to promote coordinated national and international action against illicit drugs while supporting Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community and compliance with its international obligations.