KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Hundreds of employees and officials of pharmaceutical companies in Kandahar city staged a protest against restrictions on the sale of Pakistani medicines, but Taliban authorities prevented them from continuing the demonstration.
A source in Kandahar, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told KabulNow that the protest began on Wednesday morning, November 11, in the Jadeed Road area of the city.
According to the source, the demonstrators were protesting the ban on Pakistani medicines and chanting slogans demanding alternatives to the products, including “We want substitutes for Pakistani medicines.”
The source added that Taliban officials arrived at the scene and stopped the protest.
The area, known as Jadeed Road, is a major centre for pharmaceutical shops and the offices of large medicine companies. It is now under Taliban security control, with civilians reportedly being prevented from entering the area, the source said.
The Taliban have recently banned the sale of Pakistani medicines.
Last year, following rising tensions with Pakistan, the Taliban authorities announced a ban on medicine imports from the neighbouring country. The restriction has contributed to rising medicine prices, while reports indicate that Pakistani medicines continue to enter Afghanistan through smuggling networks, without proper regulatory oversight, putting consumers’ health at risk.
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated significantly since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, with disputes over border security, militant groups and the movement of Afghan refugees contributing to tensions.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban authorities of allowing Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban authorities have rejected the allegations. Tensions escalated in October 2025 following deadly cross-border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, prompting the closure of major border crossings and disrupting trade between the two countries.
Amid the deteriorating relations, Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar announced in November 2025 that Afghanistan would stop importing medicines from Pakistan, citing concerns over their quality. Importers were given three months to settle outstanding transactions and find alternative suppliers. The ban officially took effect on February 9, 2026.
Before the restrictions, more than 70 percent of medicines used in Afghanistan were reportedly imported from Pakistan, making the country a major supplier to the Afghan pharmaceutical market.
The ban and border disruptions have contributed to medicine shortages and higher prices. A January 2026 World Bank report said health-related prices in Afghanistan increased by 8.8 percent in December 2025, partly reflecting higher medicine procurement costs following the rerouting of imports after the Pakistan border closure.
The restrictions have also forced traders to seek alternative suppliers in countries such as India, Iran and Turkey. However, longer transportation routes and higher import costs have made it difficult to maintain previous supply levels. Meanwhile, the continued entry of Pakistani medicines through unofficial channels has raised concerns about the quality, storage and safety of pharmaceutical products reaching consumers.
The disruption has placed additional pressure on patients, particularly low-income families and people with chronic illnesses who depend on regular access to affordable medication.
