The Taliban on Wednesday exhorted Afghanistan's trading community to minimise its trade with neighbouring Pakistan amid ongoing tensions with Islamabad following the collapse of peace talks between the two sides in Türkiye this month.
"In order tosafeguard national dignity, economic interests, and the rights of our citizens, Afghan traders should minimise their trade with Pakistan and seek alternative transit routes," the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's (IEA) Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, told reporters in Kabul.
It is worth noting that Afghanistan has been suffering economic losses in millions of dollars after Pakistan closed all border crossings with the Central Asian Islamic state following deadly border clashes with the Taliban fighters in October, in which the two allies-turned-foes suffered casualties.
Baradar underscored that Pakistan continues to block Afghanistan's trade routes, resulting in significant economic losses to Afghanistan.
He called upon Afghan traders to shift their imports/exports to other nations, stressing that other "viable alternatives are now available" in what is being viewed as a reference to friendly countries like India, Russia and other Central Asian Republics.