Education
Sports
KPK
Arandu ceasefire seen as positive step amid Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions
Shamim shahid
PESHAWAR:
Amidst continuing tensions and hostilities between Islamabad and Kabul, a major breakthrough has been reported from Arandu, a key historical corridor along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chitral district.
Arandu connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral, Upper Dir, and Lower Dir districts with Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nuristan provinces. According to reports from Chitral, tribal elders from both sides recently convened a traditional jirga and, after detailed discussions on issues linked to recent clashes, agreed to a local ceasefire.
While the agreement has yet to be formally endorsed by authorities in Islamabad and Kabul, it is being viewed as a significant confidence-building measure.
Sources said prominent elders from Arandu on the Pakistani side and from Nari district in Kunar, as well as Barg-e-Matal and Kamdesh in Nuristan, held extensive consultations. During the meeting, participants described continued hostilities as harmful to the interests of both countries and stressed the need for peaceful4 resolution of disputes.
The elders reportedly prioritised an immediate ceasefire, with mediation and resolution of outstanding issues to follow.
Under the understanding, it was agreed that Afghan authorities would not support or facilitate militant activity in the bordering districts, nor allow any actions that could be used to target Pakistani territory. It was also decided that in case of firing incidents originating from the area, access routes could be temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.
The agreement further includes provisions for the return of displaced civilians on both sides. Residents from Afghan areas, including Nari and surrounding localities, are expected to return to their homes after previous clashes had forced them to relocate. Similarly, residents of Arandu on the Pakistani side are also expected to return.
The accord also states that the connecting road will remain open for pedestrians and travellers from both sides under normal conditions.
Observers note that the development underscores the role of traditional jirgas in conflict resolution along the border, where long-standing disputes have often been linked to historical, political, and security issues, including the unresolved status of the Durand Line and concerns over cross-border militancy.
They add that while formal diplomatic challenges between Pakistan and Afghanistan persist, such local-level initiatives are widely seen as important steps toward reducing tensions and restoring stability in border regions.
National
Fertilizer shock in Hormuz threatens global food supplies.
Strait closure hits urea flows feeding half the world.
ISLAMABAD:
Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a sharp shock in global fertilizer markets, raising concerns over crop production and food prices across South Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The supply squeeze has created particular risks for Pakistan, which relies on both imported fertilizers and natural gas-linked feedstock for domestic production.
The 21-mile-wide maritime corridor is one of the world’s most critical trade routes. Roughly 30 percent of global fertilizer trade and about 20 percent of liquefied natural gas shipments normally pass through the strait. LNG is a key input for nitrogen fertilizer production, meaning disruptions affect both direct fertilizer flows and the gas supply required for manufacturing, said business leader and former Islamabad Chamber of Commerce president Shahid Rasheed Butt.
He added that exposure is even higher for certain commodities. Around half of globally traded sulfur, about one-third of internationally traded urea, and nearly a quarter of ammonia exports originate from Gulf producers, which are widely used for wheat, rice, maize, and other staple crops.
Butt noted that prices have already reacted sharply. International urea prices have risen from about 482 dollars per tonne to nearly 720 dollars per tonne, while ammonia prices have increased by around 24 percent to close to 600 dollars per tonne. He warned that prolonged disruption could push prices further upward as buyers compete for limited cargoes.
Fertilizer plants have also been shut in several countries, including Qatar, India, and Bangladesh. In Pakistan, ahead of the Kharif sowing season, one major company has halted production while several others have initiated emergency planning.
The Gulf region typically accounts for about 20 percent of global seaborne fertilizer exports and nearly 46 percent of internationally traded urea. Unlike oil markets, the fertilizer sector has no strategic reserve system and operates largely on a just-in-time logistics model, leaving limited buffers against sudden shipping disruptions.
Shahid Rasheed Butt warned that sustained high input costs could reduce crop yields and push food prices higher if supply constraints persist. He urged policymakers to accelerate procurement and consider targeted price stabilization measures.
Policymakers now face the dual challenge of securing fertilizer supplies while managing fiscal pressures under the ongoing IMF stabilization program.
