Afghanistan bans pharma imports from Pakistan

Taliban regime asks traders to find alternative routes for medicines supply

Afghanistan's Taliban regime on Wednesday announced that the import of medicines from Pakistan will be completely banned within the next three months, and urged the local pharmaceutical traders to find alternative supply routes, Afghan media outlets said.

Speaking at a meeting with traders and industrialists in Kabul, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the regime's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, directed the finance ministry to ensure that no individual or company is allowed to import medicines from Pakistan after the deadline.

Baradar criticised the quality of Pakistani medicines, calling them one of the main problems in Afghanistan's health sector. He urged Afghan traders to find alternative supply routes and settle any financial accounts or contracts currently held in Pakistan before the ban takes effect.

The decision comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, over the use of Afghan soil for launching terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Despite three rounds of talks to ease tensions, the bilateral border trade remained closed.

Baradar said that after the three-month period, the Kabul would not cooperate with traders continuing business with Pakistan. He also demanded "practical guarantees" from Islamabad that trade routes will not be closed on security or political grounds.

Baradar emphasised that Afghanistan now has access to multiple regional trade routes and is working to improve connectivity and infrastructure. He stressed that the issue of trade and refugees must not undermine Afghanistan's economic independence.