The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, participated in and addressed a meeting convened to ensure the sustainable management of trade relations with regional and neighboring countries, to safeguard Afghanistan’s strategic survival in the commercial sphere, to protect the dignity of the people, and to secure the country’s policy.
The meeting was attended by officials from various institutions of the Emirate, along with traders, investors, and industrialists. In his remarks, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund stated that regional and international trade constitutes a common and mutual necessity among all nations, and that no legitimate commercial relations should become victims of unreasonable politics.
He added that, regrettably, in the present era it has become commonplace for trade relations, commercial routes, economic sanctions, and the unlawful and inhumane suffering of migrants to be exploited as political instruments to exert pressure upon targeted states. However, Afghanistan now possesses access to multiple routes and corridors for its exports and imports; thus, our reliance is no longer confined to a single country, and our commercial relations and ties with regional and neighboring states have been considerably strengthened in comparison to the past.
He affirmed that such diversification of trade routes effectively shields the country from economic and political pressures. Through the diversification of routes and the adoption of sound policies, by the grace of Allah, we have been extricated from a condition in which the closure of a single corridor would have caused a rise in domestic commodity prices.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs stated that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is continuously endeavoring to establish new alternative routes for regional and international connectivity, as well as to enhance existing routes in terms of infrastructure and technical capacity. He added that the Islamic Emirate has consistently maintained, and will continue to maintain, constructive commercial relations with neighboring countries within the framework of an economy-oriented policy; however, if other countries exploit or misuse our policies, we are compelled to consider alternative routes.
Addressing industrialists and traders regarding the reduction of reliance on Pakistan for trade, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund stated that they should redirect their trade toward other alternative routes instead of Pakistan. These routes, he noted, have not only caused harm to Afghan traders but have also created difficulties for markets and the general public.
He urged all traders emphatically to implement alternative options for exports and imports without delay, ensuring that trade activities are neither obstructed nor delayed. For goods that have thus far been procured in Pakistan, traders should seek alternative countries and markets for their purchase and importation. He further stated that if traders continue to export or import goods via Pakistan in the future, the Islamic Emirate will not address or consider their complaints should any issues arise.
He also strongly urged pharmaceutical importers to conduct their import operations through other countries and alternative routes as soon as possible, to settle all outstanding accounts within three months, and to withdraw their operations accordingly.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs declared that Pakistan has repeatedly closed trade routes, politicized commercial and humanitarian affairs, and caused harm to traders and industrialists of both nations; therefore, these actions necessitated the Islamic Emirate’s current decisions. If Pakistan seeks the reopening of trade routes, such reopening will occur only upon the provision of firm and credible guarantees that the routes will not be closed again under any circumstances.
Finally, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund instructed officials of the Ministry of Finance that, after three months, they must neither accept pharmaceutical products imported from Pakistan nor grant permission to any party to import them.
