KABUL – The Afghan Taliban government has ordered all traders to stop trade with Pakistan, giving them a three-month deadline. Traders must now seek alternative trade routes, Vice Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said. Officials warned non-compliance will lead to government non-cooperation.
Baradar urged Afghan traders and industrialists to shift imports and exports from Pakistan to other regional markets. He emphasized that reliance on Pakistan for trade must end immediately. The announcement highlighted the Taliban’s push to diversify Afghanistan’s economic connections.
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He specifically criticized Pakistan-imported medicines as substandard, giving importers three months to close their trade accounts with Pakistan. Baradar claimed Afghanistan now has stronger trade links with other countries, providing sufficient alternative routes for commerce.
The Taliban official warned that Pakistan could reopen trade only if it guarantees the routes will remain permanently accessible. He stressed that any continuation of trade without government approval would not be supported.
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Senator Dr. Afnanullah Khan noted on social media that the Taliban’s announcement aligns with Pakistan’s prior closure of the border weeks ago. This move marks a significant shift in Afghanistan-Pakistan trade relations, impacting regional economic dynamics.