New Delhi, Jan 21 (NationPress) In a move that could heighten tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kabul declared on Wednesday that medications imported from its neighboring nation will no longer be available for sale after February 9. Traders have been urged to wrap up all relevant business dealings before this deadline, according to reports.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Afghanistan has indicated that only 19 days remain before this previous decision takes effect, after which imported medicines from Pakistan will be barred from processing under any circumstances, as reported by Kabul's Pajhwok news. Traders are advised to finalize all outstanding transactions within this timeframe.

On November 13, 2025, the MoF announced that imported medicines from Pakistan would not be cleared through customs following a three-month grace period, in accordance with a directive from the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

Reports from the ground indicate that the closure of Afghanistan-Pakistan trade routes since late last year has led to significant market instability and unprecedented price surges in both countries.

Since signing a truce following a violent confrontation on October 11, Afghanistan and Pakistan have been unable to agree on the operational details.

The Durand Line, established by the British during their colonial rule in India, remains a contentious issue between the two nations, leading to numerous skirmishes along the 2,600 km border.

Afghanistan, being landlocked, heavily relies on trade through these border crossings, which provide access to key ports like Karachi and Gwadar in Pakistan, as well as routes through the Iranian border to the west.

This announcement is poised to further exacerbate the already strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Approximately three months ago, Taliban forces initiated an operation across the troubled border, with Kabul asserting it was a response to alleged airstrikes by Pakistani forces into Afghan territory.

Multiple rounds of talks mediated by regional players have failed to establish or implement a ceasefire agreement between these once-friendly, now adversarial neighbors.

Discussions between Kabul and Islamabad have occurred several times in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, but have not yielded any fruitful outcomes.

On Wednesday, a report from Pajhwok quoted the Taliban’s government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, asserting that the lack of collaboration and irresponsible behavior from the Pakistani delegation impeded the success of the negotiations in Turkey, despite Afghanistan's goodwill and efforts from its mediators.

Additionally, on November 12 of last year, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, encouraged traders and industrialists to seek alternative trade routes instead of depending on Pakistan. He cautioned that Kabul would not resolve any issues stemming from ongoing reliance on Pakistani routes. Baradar accused Islamabad of consistently closing trade passages and politicizing commercial matters, resulting in considerable losses for businesses in both nations, which ultimately compelled the Afghan government to make this decision.