Iran Calls Pak-Iran Border Closure Temporary, Blames 'Technical Issues' as Reopening Talks Underway

Iran has said the suspension of cross-border movement with Pakistan is temporary, blaming "technical issues" and precautionary measures, as officials from both countries hold consultations aimed at reopening the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan crossings that Islamabad shut down over security and smuggling concerns. The statement, reported by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency on Saturday, is Tehran's first official response since Pakistan halted trade through the two crossings, and signals that both sides want normal operations restored as quickly as possible, Dawn reported.

Main News Report

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said on Saturday that "due to certain technical issues and the need to implement precautionary measures, cross-border movement and exchanges have been temporarily suspended," according to IRNA.

"However, the relevant authorities from both countries are in close contact, consulting and working to resolve the issue as soon as possible so that operations at the border crossings can return to normal," Baqaei added.

Dawn reported that Baqaei confirmed the closure was temporary and attributed it to "technical issues," while the two countries remain in consultations to restore normal operations.

• What was shut: Pakistan suspended trade with Iran through the official Gabd-Rimdan (250) and Taftan border crossings on Saturday, after the Ministry of Commerce issued a memorandum on Friday withdrawing its earlier order dated October 3 with immediate effect.
• Who is talking: Sources said Pakistani and Iranian authorities had made initial contact following the closure, with high-level officials from both countries working to resolve administrative issues.
• Trade warning: The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) has advised its members and businesses involved in trade with Iran to stop placing new import and export orders until further notice.

Background Context

The closure followed a Ministry of Commerce memorandum, seen by Dawn, that revoked an October 3 order facilitating trade through the two crossings. Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media and political affairs, said the "purpose of the temporary closure of the Pak-Iran border is to address security concerns, prevent smuggling, and make the border system more effective."

Rind refuted "rumours being spread on social media" about the shutdown and urged the public not to pay attention to unverified information, stressing the move was "necessary to improve the security situation and administrative affairs on both sides of the border."

Hundreds of freight vehicles carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), rice, fresh fruit and other essential commodities have been stranded on both sides of the border. The Gabd-Rimdan crossing had become a major route for Pakistan's energy needs, with more than 4,000 tonnes of LPG reportedly imported daily through it, while exports of Pakistani products, particularly rice, had surged in recent months.

Since March, Islamabad and Tehran had rolled out a series of measures to facilitate border trade, including easing customs procedures and formalising Taftan as a customs station. In early August, an Iranian delegation led by Trade and Industry Minister Mohammad Atabak visited Islamabad for the 10th session of the Pak-Iran Joint Trade Committee, where both sides agreed to expand trade ties by keeping border crossings open round the clock.

Reactions and Statements

Iranian officials emphasised that the disruption is temporary and does not reflect any broader change in the bilateral relationship, which Tehran describes as rooted in historical, cultural and religious bonds.

Rind said a coordinated system was being established to improve border affairs and prevent smuggling. "In the context of the current progress, the Pak-Iran border is likely to reopen soon," he added, noting that "progress continues between the high officials of both countries to resolve administrative issues."

Local traders and chambers have warned that the disruption could cause substantial losses to the national exchequer, jeopardise livelihoods and trigger an energy crisis. Sources in the trade and energy sector warned the closure could aggravate LPG shortages in Karachi and other parts of the country and push up LPG prices in the open market.

Why This News Matters

The suspension hits Pakistan at a sensitive moment. Gabd-Rimdan had become the country's principal artery for Iranian LPG imports, and the Taftan route was already facing disruptions amid unrest in Balochistan. Any prolonged closure risks:

• LPG shortages: Karachi and other parts of Pakistan could face supply gaps, with open-market prices under pressure.
• Trade losses: Traders warn of billions in losses as thousands of containers and hundreds of freight vehicles sit stranded at the crossings.
• Energy costs: With the ongoing US-Iran war straining regional economies, alternative energy sourcing could further inflate import bills.

Future Developments

Both governments now describe the shutdown as temporary, and the immediate focus is on the ongoing consultations between Pakistani and Iranian authorities to resolve the technical and administrative issues. A formal announcement of reopening could follow once the two sides finalise the coordinated border-management system Rind referred to.

Key things to watch in the coming days: whether freight movement resumes through Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan, whether the QCCI lifts its advisory against new trade orders, and whether LPG supply and prices in Karachi stabilise. Any delay beyond the "reopen soon" framing would deepen the trade and energy fallout both countries are trying to contain.

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