Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade Fully Halted, Chamber Head Says
Khan Jan Alkozi, president of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries, stated that trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan has completely stopped due to border closures and transit suspensions, causing economic losses for both countries, particularly Pakistan.
In an interview with Afghanistan International on Thursday, Alkozi said the border closures have inflicted the greatest damage on Pakistan, which has lost approximately $200 million monthly from halted trade with Afghanistan over the past four months. He noted that this situation has prompted reactions from traders and the public in Pakistan.
Alkozi emphasized that Afghanistan has shifted its trade to alternative countries including China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. However, he warned that prolonged border closures with Pakistan, combined with the war in Iran, would exacerbate Afghanistan's challenges.
"Pakistan was our closest partner. Pakistan needs us and we need Pakistan. It was a very good market for us, especially for exports, but with the tensions between the two countries and the halt in trade, we have been forced to focus on alternatives," Alkozi said.
The developments follow Islamabad's suspension of trade relations after airstrikes on Afghan territory. The Taliban refused to yield and ordered a halt to pharmaceutical imports from Pakistan. Pakistani officials have warned that ties with Afghanistan will not normalize until terrorist safe havens are dismantled.
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