Key Points:
Afghanistan has enforced a full ban on pharmaceutical imports from Pakistan effective from February 9, 2026.
The ban has led to acute shortages of essential medicines, with some drug prices more than doubling in cities like Kabul and Herat.
The Taliban government is seeking new pharmaceutical partnerships with countries such as India and Turkey.
Afghanistan has implemented a complete ban on pharmaceutical imports from Pakistan starting February 9, 2026. Pakistan has historically been its largest medicine supplier. The move has triggered widespread drug shortages and dramatic price increases of the medicines across the country, especially in Kabul and Herat.
The decision was initially announced by the Taliban-led government last November and was implemented this week. It marks a significant shift in Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical supply chain. Pakistan had historically supplied more than 70 percent of Afghanistan’s medicines, making it the country’s largest pharmaceutical partner.
The prohibition became operational following months of deteriorating bilateral relations between the Taliban government and Pakistan. Abdul Qayum Nasir, spokesperson for Afghanistan's Ministry of Finance, confirmed to Radio Omid that the ban now covers both official imports and medicines entering through smuggling routes.
“Those involved in smuggling will be prosecuted, and confiscated goods will be destroyed,” Nasir stated, adding that traders had been given 19 days to complete pending transactions and documentation linked to Pakistan.
The ban follows the closure of the border with Pakistan in October and a series of mutual cross-border attacks that have strained relations between the neighboring countries.
Pharmacists in Kabul report acute shortages of medicines used to treat chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. A large portion of these drugs was previously imported almost entirely from Pakistan.
According to testimonies cited by international media, the prices of some essential medicines have more than doubled. Residents say this sudden rise has placed unbearable pressure on families already struggling with widespread poverty and limited access to healthcare. A resident of Herat, speaking in a video shared with Afghanistan International, described current medicine prices as having reached “the value of a human life.”
The Taliban's Ministry of Health has officially justified the ban by citing the “poor quality” of Pakistani medicines. However, the move comes amid ongoing political and trade tensions with Pakistan, suggesting broader diplomatic motivations.
See also: India Sends Ambulances, Medical Aid to Afghanistan Amid Growing Health Cooperation
Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar has asked traders to identify new routes and suppliers to address the crisis. The government is focusing on few main strategies, such as:
Domestic pharmaceutical production – Encouraging local manufacturing capacity
New international agreements – Seeking supply deals with China, India, Iran, and Malaysia
Taliban officials traveled to India, Iran, and Turkey last month in search of alternative sources of pharmaceutical imports to address shortages in the domestic market.
For Pakistan, the ban represents a significant economic blow. Afghanistan was one of Pakistan's largest pharmaceutical markets. The prohibition is expected to cause losses running into billions of rupees for the country’s drug industry.
On the other hand, the crisis presents a major opportunity for India to strengthen humanitarian support and trade ties with Afghanistan. The situation may open opportunities for countries such as India to expand pharmaceutical trade and humanitarian engagement with Afghanistan.
(Rh/VK)
