Afghanistan bans medicine imports from Pakistan over border tensions
2 Min Read
Afghanistan has banned the import of medicines from Pakistan due to repeated border closures and quality concerns, urging traders to seek alternative suppliers and routes within a three-month deadline.
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People wait near the closed gate at the Spin Boldak border crossing with Pakistan after it was shut following clashes in Kandahar, Afghanistan on October 23, 2025. (AP)
The Afghan government has announced a ban on the import of medicines from Pakistan, citing repeated closures of key border crossings that have disrupted the movement of goods, according to the official Alemarah news.
In addition to the ban, authorities have given contractors with existing agreements a three-month deadline to conclude business with Pakistani suppliers.
Government officials said the decision was made to safeguard Afghanistan’s economic interests and protect the dignity and rights of local traders, the report added.
Afghan officials call for alternative trade routes
Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar met with traders and industrialists in Kabul, urging a shift away from reliance on Pakistan for trade and the pursuit of alternative routes for goods transit, Pajhwok news reported.
“There is no doubt that the import of low-quality medicines from Pakistan is a serious problem in our healthcare sector and the main reason for the annual outflow of hundreds of millions of dollars from the country,” Baradar was quoted as saying.
He urged traders to seek alternative suppliers, warning that the Islamic Emirate would not accept complaints from those who continue business with Pakistan after the announcement.
Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Bangladesh are among the main exporters of pharmaceuticals to Afghanistan. Prior to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the country imported roughly $1 billion worth of medicines annually.
