Afghanistan bans ‘inferior’ Pakistani medicines, tells traders to seek new routes

Kabul: Deputy PM Mullah Baradar warns traders to end Pakistan ties within three months as Kabul pushes for regional trade independence. Afghanistan has instructed its traders to halt all medicine imports from Pakistan within three months, alleging that the pharmaceutical products are of substandard quality.

The directive was issued by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, during a meeting with business representatives in Kabul.

Baradar emphasised that Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistani goods has damaged the country’s health sector and economic stability. He warned that the Taliban administration will not cooperate with or support traders who continue business with Pakistan once the deadline expires.

“Our health sector’s main problem is the import of low-quality medicines from Pakistan. I strongly urge all medicine importers to immediately find alternative supply routes,” Baradar said, according to a report by Tolo News.

Border closures deepen economic tensions

The announcement comes amid a month-long suspension of trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan following repeated border closures. Cross-border movement of goods has nearly halted, leading to sharp price swings and market disruptions on both sides.

In Pakistan, vegetable prices — especially tomatoes imported from Afghanistan — have risen sharply. Meanwhile, Afghan farmers are facing steep losses as the domestic market is flooded with unsold produce such as tomatoes, pomegranates, grapes and onions.

Social media posts from both countries have highlighted the impact, with Afghan traders struggling to export and Pakistani consumers facing shortages of fresh produce.

Kabul urges diversification of regional trade

Baradar urged Afghan traders to explore new regional partners for imports and exports, arguing that Pakistan’s repeated trade restrictions have harmed the Afghan economy. “These routes have not only harmed our traders but have also caused difficulties for markets and the general public. I strongly urge all traders to implement alternative options for imports and exports as soon as possible,” he said.

Afghanistan, a landlocked country, traditionally relies on access through Pakistan’s Karachi and Gwadar ports for overseas trade. Key exports — including carpets, dried fruits, medicinal plants, and gemstones — were valued at around $1.61 billion in 2024.

Growing political friction and regional realignment

Baradar also accused Islamabad of using trade and refugee policies as political tools. “Trade and the suffering of refugees are being used as tools for irrational political motives,” he said, referring to Pakistan’s ongoing deportation of thousands of Afghan refugees.

The Taliban leader maintained that Afghanistan now has access to alternative routes through Iran, Central Asia, and China — a sign of shifting regional alliances. He said if Pakistan wanted to reopen trade routes, it must provide firm guarantees that they would not be closed again.

Tensions remain high along the 2,600 km Durand Line, the colonial-era boundary between the two nations. Despite a temporary truce following clashes in October 2025, the neighbours continue to face repeated skirmishes and economic stand-offs over border control and trade policy.
(With IANS inputs)