Pakistan reopened southwestern the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar province that is currently held by the Taliban, Pakistani customs officials said, as quoted by Reuters.

The Pakistani government has allowed over 100 trucks carrying goods to cross into Afghanistan, the report said.

The crossing has remained closed by Pakistan since fierce fighting for control of the Spin Boldak district erupted between Afghan government and the Taliban earlier this month.

"Pakistan has opened its border with Afghanistan at Chaman today and resumed Afghan Transit Trade which was suspended since the last one month," Arif Kakar, a senior official of the Chaman pass said as quoted by Reuters.

He said it would remain open six days a week.

The Afghan government has not yet commented on the move.

The Finance Ministry on Monday said the Afghan government has lost 2.7 billion Afs (over $33 million) in customs revenue over the last four weeks as key border towns have fallen to the Taliban during this period.

Over the past month, the government has lost control of key border towns including Islam Qala in Herat, Abu Nasr Farahi in Farah, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Ai Khanum in Takhar, Dand Patan in Paktia and Shirkhan in Kunduz province.

The Finance Ministry said that the government has no control over seven customs departments in border towns.

The Islam Qala customs area is one of the biggest trade gateways between Afghanistan and Iran and has been under Taliban control for the last 20 days.

Rafi Tabe, a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, said the collections from Jawza (May 22 to June 22, 2021) was 7.3 billion (at least $91 million) but this was reduced to 4.6 billion Afs ($57 million) in Saratan (June 23 to July 23).

"The customs revenue is dependent on trading. It will have a negative impact on revenue if there are issues in trading," he said.

Private sector representatives said the issues around the border towns have affected traders� willingness to import goods to the country through these gateways.

Investors suggested that the government should take control of income-generating border towns to prevent further harm to importers.

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/23198

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