Afghanistan to stop processing medicines from Pakistan after Feb.9: MoF

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Wednesday announced that medicines imported from neighbouring Pakistan will no longer be processed in Afghanistan after February 9, urging traders to complete all related commercial transactions before the deadline.

On November 13, 2025, MoF had declared that medicines imported from Pakistan would no longer be processed through customs after three months, following a directive from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

In a statement issued today (Wednesday), MoF confirmed that only 19 days remain before the decision takes full effect, after which medicines imported from Pakistan will not be processed under any circumstances. Traders have been urged to finalise all pending transactions within this period.

This announcement comes amid ongoing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad. Approximately three months ago, Pakistan closed all trade routes with Afghanistan following attacks by Pakistani forces near the Durand Line and violations of Afghan territory.

In retaliation, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) launched a counter-action.

On November 12, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, called on traders and industrialists to explore alternative trade routes instead of relying on Pakistan.

He warned that IEA would not address any problems arising from continued dependence on Pakistani routes.

He stated that Pakistan had repeatedly closed trade routes and politicised commercial matters, leading to significant losses for traders and industrialists in both countries, which ultimately forced the Afghan government to take this decision.

Negotiation talks between Kabul and Islamabad were held multiple times—in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey—but failed to produce any tangible results.

IEA spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the lack of cooperation and irresponsible conduct by the Pakistani delegation hindered the success of the talks in Turkey, despite IEA’s goodwill and efforts to the mediators.

kk/sa