The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce says Afghanistan’s trade with Iran has surpassed its trade with Pakistan.
Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzada told Reuters that over the past six months, Afghanistan’s trade volume with Iran reached 105.88 billion afghanis (USD 1.6 billion), while trade with Pakistan amounted to 72.79 billion afghanis (USD 1.1 billion).
He said Chabahar Port has reduced delays and given Afghan traders confidence that even if border crossings close, their cargo will still enter through the port.
Taliban officials say Afghan traders at Chabahar receive incentives including lower tariffs, reduced warehousing fees, and faster processing.
Akhundzada noted that Iran has installed modern equipment and X-ray scanners at the port and offers Afghanistan’s cargo a 30% tariff discount, 75% discount on warehousing charges, and 55% off berthing fees.
The Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs has ordered Afghan traders to shift away from Pakistan’s markets, warning that in three months all imports of medicine from Pakistan will be banned.
Border crossings between the two countries remain closed; the Taliban say they will reopen them only if Islamabad provides firm guarantees that closures will not recur under any circumstances.
Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif told Geo News that the Taliban’s decision will not harm Pakistan’s economy. Pakistan’s commerce minister, Jamal Kamal Khan, told Reuters: “We cannot sacrifice security for trade.”
India, which operates key terminals at Chabahar Port, has expanded its engagement with the Taliban in recent months.
Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s fastest route to the sea, with trucks able to reach Karachi within three days via Pakistani territory.
Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan in 2024 amounted to roughly 99.27 billion afghanis (USD 1.5 billion).
