The ongoing tussle between Pakistan and Afghanistan has affected trade between both nations. Amid the tensions, Kabul has started focusing on routes that will reduce dependence on Islamabad. These new routes pass through Iran and Central Asia, benefiting the Afghan Taliban government.
The Afghan Taliban have been trying to reduce their dependence on Pakistan. As per a Reuters report, Commerce Ministry spokesperson Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzada claimed that Kabul’s trade with Iran has reached $1.6 billion in the past six months, far exceeding the $1.1 billion trade volume with Pakistan.
Chabahar: The New Choice for Trade
Akhundzada said that the Chabahar Port has eased difficulties for the country. The port, located in southeastern Iran, was developed by India and is providing convenience to traders.
IANS earlier reported that the Taliban government is searching for new trade routes as tensions rise along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. Traders on both sides have suffered major losses after recent attacks. Khan Jan Alokozai, president of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the disruption in traffic is costing both countries about $1 million per day.
The border has now been closed for several weeks. Alokozai said that earlier around 2,000 vehicles used to cross daily, but the shutdown has caused heavy losses, especially for fruit and vegetable traders. The closure comes at a time when Afghanistan’s agricultural exports—such as pistachios, almonds, raisins, apricots, and walnuts—were growing and giving a major boost to the economy.
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