Taliban issues directives to Afghan traders, “Stop trade with Pakistan within 3 months”

Starving Pakistan will fall into deeper trouble

Islamabad (Pakistan) / Kabul (Afghanistan) – Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has told traders to reduce business with Pakistan and use other routes for the transit of goods. At a press conference he told that the change is to protect the dignity of the country, as Pakistan has repeatedly blocked routes for their trade. The directive also aims to safeguard trade, industry and the rights of Afghans.

Traders are also instructed to redirect imports that currently come from Pakistan to alternative markets and countries. Additionally, he directed that no one should be allowed to import medicines from Pakistan. This statement has created a stir in Pakistan.

“Pakistan will only benefit !” – Pakistan’s Defence Minister’s boast

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that even if trade with Afghanistan stops, Pakistan will not be affected. He said goods coming from Afghanistan are not needed in Pakistan’s local markets. When trade from Afghanistan decreases, terrorists entering Pakistan under its cover will also reduce. Thus, Pakistan will benefit from it.

• Pakistan’s Defence Minister reprimanded by his own people

• Pakistan has lost 65 % of the Afghan market in the last 4 years – Pakistani trade leader

Engineer Manzoor Elahi, former Senior Vice-President of Pakistan’s Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industries, strongly countered Defence Minister Khawaja Asif by presenting crucial facts. He said:

1. If trade with Afghanistan stops, Pakistan will suffer more. Pakistan supplies medicines to Afghanistan, but Iran and India supply them at cheaper rates.

2. Uzbekistan and Russia supply sugar to Afghanistan. Afghanistan does not need Pakistan, but Pakistan needs Afghanistan.

3. Iran and Turkey have taken control of Afghanistan’s markets that once belonged to Pakistan. Afghanistan now imports goods from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, and Ukraine. Pakistan has already lost 65 % of the Afghan market over the last four years.

4. Pakistan will not only lose the Afghan market but also the markets of Central Asia.

Editorial Perspective

In such a situation, will this same Pakistan wage war against Afghanistan ? With its economy already shattered, will Pakistan also face a military setback ?