India grants special entry to 160 Afghan trucks at Attari-Wagah border

India gives special entry to 160 Afghan trucks via Attari

India has allowed the entry of 160 trucks from Afghanistan carrying dry fruits and nuts through the Attari border in Punjab, in what is being described as a “special gesture” reports Times of India.

This move came a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a conversation with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, marking the first political-level contact between India and the Taliban leadership. India has not yet officially recognised the Taliban regime in Kabul.

Sources told the Times of India that Pakistan had initially blocked the Afghan trucks' access to pass through the border, following which the country’s authorities allowed some of them to unload at Attari.

The move comes after India had temporarily shut the Attari-Wagah crossing on April 23, a day after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The border closure had stalled the movement of Afghan goods into India.

According to an official communication reported by Indian Express, dated May 14 from the Deputy Commissioner of Customs at ICP Attari to Assistant Director at the Land Customs Station, Wagah, Lahore, the clearance was granted following a request from Afghan authorities.

“Afghanistan authorities have requested Indian Ministry of External Affairs for facilitation of 162 freight trucks meant for export to India from Afghanistan which are currently stuck in Pakistan,” read the letter.

The letter further stated, “In this regard it is intimated that the Government of India has given necessary permission to allow aforementioned 162 trucks into India through Wagah-Attari Border."

It further read, "Indian Customs have made necessary arrangements to facilitate the movement of cargo in aforesaid 162 trucks. This is for information and further necessary action at your end.”

Customs authorities at the Integrated Check Post in Attari have made logistical arrangements to process the incoming cargo, ensuring smooth transit of the goods into Indian territory.

Jaishankar, in a phone call with his Afghan counterpart on May 15, expressed having a "good conversation" with Muttaqi, highlighting India’s long-standing relationship with the Afghan people and discussing potential areas for future cooperation.

He expressed appreciation for Muttaqi’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives and welcomed his “firm rejection” of what were described as “recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports.”

“Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continued support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward,” Jaishankar said in his X post.