Pakistan Opens Six Land Routes to Iran, Piercing US Maritime Blockade

Key facts

• Pakistan issued the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026 on April 25.
• Six overland routes link Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar to Iranian border crossings Gabd and Taftan.
• Around 3,000 Iran-bound containers are stranded at Karachi and Port Qasim since the crisis began.
• The shortest route, Gwadar-Gabd, cuts travel time to 2-3 hours and transport costs by 45-55%.
• The US-Iran war began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
• US expert Derek J Grossman accused Pakistan of double-dealing and undermining Trump's strategy.
• Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei said Pakistan is not a suitable intermediary, citing partiality.
• A separate May 2025 order bans transit of Indian-origin goods through Pakistan.

Land Corridor Activated as Maritime Routes Remain Blockaded

Pakistan has formally opened six overland transit routes for goods destined for Iran, a move that allows Tehran to bypass the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and clear a backlog of thousands of containers stranded at Pakistani ports. The Ministry of Commerce issued the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026 on April 25, bringing it into immediate effect. The order permits goods originating from third countries to be transported through Pakistan and delivered to Iran by road. The announcement coincided with a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir, part of a series of diplomatic engagements as Pakistan seeks to mediate an end to the two-month war between Washington and Tehran. Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan described the initiative as “a significant step toward promoting regional trade and enhancing Pakistan’s role as a key trade corridor.” Iran has not publicly commented on the move, and a query to the Iranian embassy in Islamabad went unanswered.

Six Routes Traverse Balochistan to Iranian Border Crossings

The six designated routes link Pakistan’s main ports—Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar—with two Iranian border crossings, Gabd and Taftan, passing through Balochistan via Turbat, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Quetta and Dalbandin. The shortest route, the Gwadar-Gabd corridor, reduces travel time to the Iranian border to between two and three hours, compared with the 16 to 18 hours it takes from Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest port, to the Iranian border. According to officials, the Gwadar-Gabd route could cut transport costs by 45 to 55 percent compared with costs from Karachi port. For Iran, firms sending goods to the country, and transporters, all routes into Iranian territory are now viable options, with the principal maritime passage they have traditionally used—the Strait of Hormuz—blockaded by the US Navy. The notification does not extend to Indian-origin goods. A separate Commerce Ministry order issued in May 2025, following the India-Pakistan aerial war that month, bans the transit of goods from India through Pakistan by any mode and remains in force.

Stranded Containers at Karachi Ports Prompt Emergency Measures

A senior Pakistani official familiar with the development said the commerce ministry’s notification was based on a 2008 agreement between Islamabad and Tehran that allows the transport of goods and passengers by road. Iran had not used this facility as it relied on its own ports for trade. However, ongoing regional tensions meant Iran needed Pakistani ports as vessels dropped Iran-bound containers at ports in Karachi. “Currently, around 3,000 Iranian containers have been lying at Karachi and Port Qasim since the crisis began,” the official told Arab News on Tuesday. “As shipping companies could not wait for the crisis to end to drop the cargo at Iranian ports.” A commerce ministry spokesperson did not respond when asked about the scope of the new initiative. Pakistan’s Karachi Port and Port Qasim together handle more than 90 percent of Pakistan’s maritime trade. Both have increasingly become temporary holding points for Iran-bound cargo as shipping lines reroute vessels amid regional security concerns.

US Expert Accuses Pakistan of Double-Dealing on Maximum Pressure

By granting the six land routes to Tehran, Islamabad appears to have punched a hole into President Donald Trump’s strategy of maximum economic pressure. Derek J Grossman, a US national security expert, warned that by granting these overland routes to Iran, Pakistan was undermining Trump’s strategy, as it would help Tehran bypass the American blockade of its port and continue its oil trade uninterrupted. “Trump administration, you have a problem. Your good friend Pakistan appears to have just opened six overland links to Iran, helping the regime bypass your counter-blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This will help Iran continue to resist US pressure. Islamabad double-deals America again!” Grossman wrote in a post on X. The allegations come as Pakistan, the lead negotiator between the warring United States and Iran, faces accusations of “double-dealing” Washington. With the US naval blockading Iranian ports, Trump is seeking to inflict enough economic pain on Tehran to coerce it into accepting American demands and end the war on his terms. The US leader has informed his administration to be prepared for a prolonged blockade, as the impasse over peace terms has reduced the war to a test of wills.

Questions Over Pakistan's Credibility as Mediator

The latest remakes add to growing criticism over Pakistan’s role as a mediator. Islamabad has been accused of being an unreliable player in mediation by Israel. Earlier this month, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, expressed doubts about Pakistan’s ability to act as a credible mediator, saying the South Asian nation was not “trustworthy.” Even Iran has cast doubt over Pakistan’s neutrality in the negotiation process. Ebrahim Rezaei, who represents Iran’s Dashtestan and serves as spokesperson for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, called Islamabad a “good friend” of Tehran but stressed it “is not a suitable intermediary,” claiming it is partial and tends to America’s interests. The current US-Iran war began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran. The conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for oil and gas shipments, since the war began.

Port Officials Consider Small Vessels to Cut Costs

A port official said authorities were considering using small vessels to move containers to Gwadar port, about 100 kilometers from the Iran border, instead of shifting them by road as it would require thousands of trucks along the lengthy route from Karachi. “This move would help clear the backlog and reduce the cost,” the port official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the press. “Using small ships instead of trucks would save about Rs50 million ($180,000) in transport charges,” he said, adding that a decision on the matter will be taken within a few days. These ports have seen increased shipping activity as Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, and the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, forcing ships to opt for alternative and longer routes.

Outlook: A Test of Wills Between Washington and Islamabad

Pakistan’s decision to open land routes to Iran represents a significant challenge to the US blockade strategy, potentially prolonging the conflict by providing Tehran with an economic lifeline. The move also complicates Pakistan’s role as a mediator, as both Israel and Iran question its credibility and neutrality. With Trump preparing for a prolonged blockade and Pakistan facilitating overland trade, the war may continue to be a test of wills. The coming days will reveal whether Washington pressures Islamabad to reverse the order or whether other regional players follow suit in offering alternative routes to Iran.

The bottom line

• Pakistan opened six overland transit routes to Iran on April 25 to bypass the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Around 3,000 Iran-bound containers are stranded at Karachi and Port Qasim due to shipping disruptions.
• The shortest route, Gwadar-Gabd, reduces travel time to 2-3 hours and cuts transport costs by 45-55%.
• US expert Derek J Grossman accused Pakistan of undermining Trump's maximum pressure strategy.
• Both Israel and Iran have questioned Pakistan's credibility as a mediator in the conflict.
• Port authorities are considering using small vessels to move containers to Gwadar to save $180,000 in transport charges.