Afghanistan’s Exports Rose In October Despite Pakistan Border Closure, Says World Bank

Afghanistan’s exports increased in October despite the closure of border crossings with Pakistan, according to a new World Bank report.

The bank said exports rose 13 percent compared with the previous month and 3.7 percent compared with the same period last year, reaching 267 million dollars.

The World Bank attributed the growth to increased exports to India and Uzbekistan. The report added that despite a halt in trade with Pakistan due to border skirmishes, exports were successfully redirected to India and Uzbekistan.

The bank noted that the peak harvest season and relatively low domestic inflation bolstered competitiveness and helped offset losses caused by the disruption of trade through Pakistan.

Food exports in October reached 238.4 million dollars, an 8.6 percent increase from a year earlier, reflecting strong regional demand, the report added.

Pakistan shut key border crossings after recent clashes with Taliban forces, halting trade and transit between the two countries for more than a month.

In response, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs banned the import of medicines from Pakistan and instructed Afghan traders to find alternative trade and transit routes. Following this directive, the Taliban’s commerce minister travelled to Iran to expand commercial ties.

The Taliban have also announced a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan for the export of Afghan agricultural products. On 22 November, the Taliban said exports of fresh produce to Uzbekistan and Central Asia had begun through the Hairatan commercial port.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry has previously urged the reopening of border crossings and the resumption of bilateral trade, warning that while trade potential exceeds 5 billion dollars annually, the volume has fallen below one billion due to repeated disruptions.