Bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the fiscal year 2024-2025 has witnessed a remarkable 25 percent increase, reaching approximately $2 billion.
This significant growth compared to last year’s $1.6 billion demonstrates substantial improvement in commercial relations between the neighboring countries.
According to The Nation newspaper, citing Pakistani officials, this growth is primarily attributed to a 31 percent increase in Pakistan’s exports, which reached $1.391 billion, while imports from Afghanistan rose by 13 percent to $607 million.
Pakistan’s major exports to Afghanistan included sugar, construction materials, textiles, and medicines, while Afghanistan primarily exported cotton, coal, onions, tomatoes, raisins, mung beans, and talc stone. Despite this growth, various barriers created by Pakistan have been reported.
Local authorities in Khost province state that Pakistani border guards closed the Ghulam Khan commercial crossing about two weeks ago, citing security concerns on the Pakistani side.
The head of the Khost Chamber of Commerce and Industries has condemned this action as contrary to international trade laws, emphasizing that the border closure without prior notice has caused millions of Afghanis in losses to fruit and vegetable traders.
Additionally, grape merchants in Kandahar have complained about Pakistan’s high customs tariffs on fresh Afghan fruit, which remains a major obstacle to Afghanistan’s fruit exports to the country.
