Traders Announce Shutdown and Sit-in After Muharram 10 Over 23-Month Closure of Angoor Adda Border

In a joint statement, trade leaders warned that if the border is not reopened, all entry and exit points to Wana would be blocked as part of their sit-in.

Traders and business communities in South Waziristan have announced a complete shutter-down strike and sit-in protest after the 10th of Muharram against the continued closure of the Angoor Adda border crossing for the past 23 months.

All trade associations, chambers of commerce, transporters, fruit vendors, travel agencies, and trade unions have demanded that the Angoor Adda border be reopened immediately, similar to other trade routes like Torkham, Chaman, and Kharlachi.

President of the South Waziristan Chamber of Commerce, Saifur Rehman Wazir, stated, “Despite repeated assurances, the Angoor Adda border has not been reopened for trade, which has forced us to take the path of protest.”

In a joint statement, trade leaders warned that if the border is not reopened, all entry and exit points to Wana would be blocked as part of their sit-in. During the protest, only vegetables, fruits, and emergency medical transport would be allowed, while all government and non-government movement would be suspended.

It is worth noting that in December 2024, students and teachers also staged a protest in the Angoor Adda bazaar, demanding that locals be allowed to cross the border using their national identity cards or e-pass.

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In June 2025, a tribal jirga of business leaders issued a deadline to the government, demanding the reopening of the border by June 30. However, the planned protest was postponed due to Muharram, though they have now warned of a shutter-down strike after the 10th.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Asadullah said, “The Angoor Adda border was the economic lifeline of the entire division, and its closure has severely affected hotels, shops, petrol pumps, and small businesses.”

Local elder Haji Khan remarked, “The border closure has left thousands unemployed. The government must take immediate notice and provide economic relief by reopening the crossing.”

Attempts were made to contact the district administration for their stance on the matter, but no response was received.

Located in South Waziristan, the Angoor Adda border connects to Afghanistan’s Paktika province and has long served as a key trade gateway in the region. However, its nearly two-year-long closure has plunged the local economy into crisis.