The Taliban said it will stop all trade with Pakistan, a move that has traders and customs workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa worried about big economic fallout. The decision comes after Kabul announced the suspension of trade ties, sparking fears of lost markets and jobs in the region.
Senior Vice‑President of the Pak‑Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, warned that Pakistan could lose a major market in Afghanistan and in Central Asian states, where the country has recently signed new trade deals. “We export fresh fruit, cement, medicines, surgical items, and many other goods worth $100‑$200 million a month to Afghanistan,” Sarhadi told Dawn. “Our border closure means we lose a huge market, and Kabul has more options than we do.”
Former president Zahidullah Shinwari added that banning trade would hit federal tax revenue, which currently collects millions of rupees daily from imports and exports at the borders. He said the industry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially cement factories that rely on Afghan coal, would suffer. “Suspending coal imports will severely cut our production capacity,” Shinwari said. He warned that a permanent suspension could shut down many factories, leave hundreds of workers jobless, and force owners into bankruptcy.
Earlier this month, Afghan authorities told the country’s business community to stop importing medicines from Pakistan. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, warned that after the notice, Kabul would not cooperate with traders who still import from Islamabad. “Low‑quality medicines need to be stopped,” Baradar stated. “Importers must find alternative suppliers and settle any contracts with Pakistan within three months.”
The Taliban also discussed ways to protect and sustain national trade at a meeting with Afghan business leaders. Reports from traders on both sides of the border say markets are already seeing sharp price swings and unprecedented hikes as the routes remain closed for about a month.
The trade freeze is expected to ripple through the region, affecting everything from medicine supplies to cement production, and could force businesses to seek new trade routes outside of Islamabad.
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