India has shut down the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, its sole land trade route with Pakistan, in response to a terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that claimed 28 lives. The decision, announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on April 23, 2025, after a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, allows returnees with valid endorsements to cross until May 1, 2025, but halts all other movement.
Located 28 kilometers from Amritsar and linked to National Highway-1, the Attari Land Port has been a critical conduit for trade and travel. In 2023–24, it handled trade worth INR 3,886.53 crore, with 6,871 cargo movements and 71,563 passenger crossings. The port is vital for Indian exports like soybeans, vegetables, poultry feed, and plastic granules, while importing dry fruits, rock salt, gypsum, and herbs from Pakistan and Afghanistan. It also serves as a key gateway for Afghan goods entering India.
The closure is set to disrupt regional trade significantly. Small-scale traders and manufacturers, who depend on the daily exchange of goods, face immediate economic challenges. The Attari-Wagah corridor’s role in Afghan imports means the shutdown could ripple across supply chains, raising costs and delaying deliveries. Bilateral trade, already declining since 2018–19 due to political tensions, may shrink further, straining local economies in Punjab and beyond.
Afghanistan’s trade with India, heavily reliant on this route, is particularly vulnerable. Goods like dry fruits and herbs may face logistical bottlenecks, potentially increasing prices in Indian markets. Analysts suggest that alternative routes, if viable, could take months to establish, leaving traders in limbo.
While India’s move underscores its security priorities, it raises questions about the future of regional commerce. Stakeholders hope for diplomatic efforts to restore stability, but for now, the closure casts a shadow over economic ties in South Asia. The coming months will reveal the full extent of the impact on traders, consumers, and cross-border relations.
