New Delhi, Nov 12 (NationPress) Afghanistan has urged its business sector to cease the importation of medicines from Pakistan within three months, citing concerns over their subpar quality. Authorities have encouraged traders to explore alternative trade routes rather than depending on Islamabad, according to reports.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has issued a stern warning that after this notice, Kabul will not engage with or heed traders who persist in dealings with Pakistan, as reported by Tolo News on Wednesday.

“The primary issue facing our health sector is the importation of low-quality medicines from Pakistan. I strongly urge all medicine importers to seek alternative supply routes immediately. Those with existing contracts or purchases in Pakistan are granted three months to finalize their transactions and conclude their operations,” the report cited Baradar.

The Taliban leader offered several crucial recommendations for the protection and sustainability of national trade during a meeting with Afghanistan’s business community.

Reports have emerged from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where trade routes have been closed for approximately a month, indicating that markets in both nations are facing significant fluctuations and unprecedented price hikes.

Social media posts have revealed that the prices of tomatoes imported from Afghanistan have surged in Pakistan’s markets. Conversely, posts from Afghanistan highlighted a drastic decline in prices for tomatoes, grapes, pomegranates, and onions due to the border closure.

Meanwhile, the cost of goods imported from Pakistan, particularly bananas, has risen in Afghan markets, as noted in social media discussions.

Tolo News reported Baradar advocating for Afghan businesses to “shift to alternative trade routes instead of relying on Pakistan. These routes have negatively impacted our traders, causing challenges for the markets and the general public. I strongly urge all traders to pursue alternative import and export options without delay.”

The landlocked nation of Afghanistan heavily relies on border crossings, which provide access to the Karachi and Gwadar ports in Pakistan for exporting goods to other countries. Afghanistan’s primary export products include carpets and rugs, dried fruits, medicinal plants, and certain gemstones, with the total export value projected at around $1.61 billion in 2024.

Baradar assured the assembled business leaders that “Afghanistan now has access to alternative trade routes” and that its economic connections with regional countries have “expanded significantly compared to the past.”

The report also mentioned that Baradar pointed out “Afghanistan is frequently subjected to political pressure,” and that trade relations and the “plight of refugees” are often exploited for “irrational political purposes.”

This was a clear reference to Islamabad’s border trade closures and the mass displacement of Afghan refugees from its territories.

Baradar emphasized that it is undeniable that all nations are interlinked when it comes to trade. He also stated that if Pakistan intends to reopen trade routes with Afghanistan in the future, “it must offer solid assurances that the routes will remain open under all circumstances,” according to Tolo’s report.

Since the two nations reached an agreement for a ceasefire following a violent confrontation on October 11, they have been unable to agree on the specifics.

The Durand Line, established by the British during their colonization of India, has been a contentious issue for Kabul, resulting in numerous skirmishes along the 2,600 km border.