Food Basket for Kabul Family Rises 35% Amid Pakistan Border Closure

An investigation by Afghanistan International shows that the cost of a basic food basket for a family in Kabul has increased by about 2,250 Afghanis, or roughly 35%, over the past four months.

Before the closure of trade borders with Pakistan, a basket including flour, oil, rice, beans, and sugar cost 6,470 Afghanis. It now stands at 8,720 Afghanis. Specific increases include a 16-kg pip of oil from 1,450 to 1,960 Afghanis; a 25-kg bag of Pakistani rice from 2,400 to 3,900 Afghanis, which a Kabul shopkeeper said is now hard to find; 49-kg bag of flour from 1,680 to 1,800 Afghanis; 7 kg of beans from 600 to 700 Afghanis; and 1 ser of sugar from 340 to 360 Afghanis. In contrast, 7 kg of mung beans, not imported from Pakistan, fell from 600 to 570 Afghanis, while chicken meat dropped 90 Afghanis per unit.

The rise follows the closure of Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossings in Miizan after clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters. Taliban authorities instructed traders to halt commerce with Pakistan, leading to daily heavy losses, according to traders. Prices in Kabul markets do not match the Taliban municipality's price list; a food seller told Afghanistan International that shopkeepers list lower prices on signs and social media to avoid enforcement but charge higher actual rates.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan can source food needs from other countries and will reopen routes only with "strong guarantees" from Pakistan against using them for political or economic pressure. The Taliban is boosting trade with Iran and Uzbekistan, planning air exports of Afghan agricultural products to regional and European markets via Uzbekistan.

Kabul food sellers noted that despite the central bank's announcement of the dollar at 63 Afghanis, food prices have not fallen. Drug prices have also risen up to 40% after a Taliban order to cut pharmaceutical trade with Pakistan.