Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has made a sharp statement against Pakistan, asking Afghan traders to scale down trade and transit with the neighbouring country to “protect Afghanistan’s economic sovereignty, dignity, and the rights of its citizens.”

Baradar accused Pakistan of continuously blocking Afghanistan’s trade routes and turning neutral issues into political ones.

“Pakistan has repeatedly blocked the routes for our trade and has used non-political issues as political tools,” his statement read.

Calling for economic self-reliance, Baradar urged Afghan traders and business owners to look for new trade routes and markets instead of depending on Pakistan.

“All Afghan traders and industrialists should turn to alternative trade routes instead of Pakistan,” he said. “These routes have not only harmed our traders but have also caused difficulties for markets and the general public. I strongly urge all traders to implement alternative options for imports and exports as soon as possible.”

He also warned that those who continue business with Pakistan would no longer receive cooperation from the Islamic Emirate.

In a bold move, Baradar announced a complete ban on importing medicines from Pakistan, saying that low-quality drugs were harming Afghanistan’s health sector. Importers, he said, would have three months to wrap up their work and close accounts in Pakistan.

“Our health sector’s main problem is the import of low-quality medicines from Pakistan,” Baradar stated. “I strongly urge all medicine importers to immediately find alternative supply routes. Those who have contracts or purchases in Pakistan are given three months to settle their accounts and wind up their work.”

He added that after this three-month period, the Ministry of Finance would not tax or permit the import of medicines from Pakistan.

Baradar said Afghanistan was already strengthening its trade relations with other regional countries and creating new economic routes.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is continuously working to establish new alternative routes for regional and global connectivity and to make existing routes more standard and efficient from technical and infrastructural perspectives,” he said.

According to him, Afghanistan now has several new options for imports and exports, allowing it to reduce its reliance on Pakistan.

He also accused Pakistan of using trade and refugee issues as political weapons. “Afghanistan is often targeted with political pressure, and trade relations and the suffering of refugees are being used as tools for irrational political motives,” he said.

Baradar added that no country could deny the importance of mutual dependence in trade, and called on Islamabad to provide firm assurances that Afghan routes would not be blocked again.

“Pakistan must provide firm guarantees that the routes will never be closed again under any circumstances,” he concluded.