Around twelve thousand containers of Afghan traders are currently stranded in Pakistani ports, causing widespread economic losses to the war-torn nation, Taliban's commerce minister, Nooruddin Azizi, announced on Monday.
Azizi underlined that the decision to pause trade with Pakistan was taken after both nations were failed to resolve their standoff at the border.
"This decision was unavoidable. But Afghanistan's doors remain open for trade with other regional countries," the minister said during his address at the opening ceremony of the Imam Abu Hanifa National and International Trade Exhibition in Kabul.
Despite the hardships faced by Afghanistan's trading community, Azizi stressed that the government was working to strengthen the country's economy.
"Today, we have active trade relations with over 80 countries. We face challenges, but our officials are committed and will never stop working to strengthen our economy," he stated.
Azizi's comments come amid worsening ties with Pakistan, especially over the subject of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP*).
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of providing safe havens to the members of the proscribed TTP, which it has blamed for launching attacks on its security forces and vital installations with an alarming regularity.
The Taliban has on several occasions denied Pakistan's charge, calling the TTP an internal matter of Islamabad.
Taliban's alleged inaction against the TTP resulted in Pakistan launching airstrikes in Kabul and Afghanistan's Paktika province in October.
Subsequently, the Taliban retaliated with action against Pakistani troops on the border, leaving dozens of soldiers dead on both sides.
* Terrorist organisation banned in Russia and other countries