The Chamber of Craftsmen said Afghanistan's livestock is being trafficked to neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.

Noorul Haq Omari, head of Afghanistan’s Chamber of Craftsmen, said that the drought on the one hand, and the smuggling of livestock, on the other hand, have damaged Afghanistan's livestock sector.

“Sheep and goats are being slaughtered and cattle are being smuggled to Pakistan,” he said.

Trafficking Afghan livestock to other countries has had a negative effect on meat prices in Kabul’s markets.

Meanwhile, livestock officials in Kabul believe that due to the smuggling of livestock from Afghanistan to Iran and Pakistan, livestock transfers from the provinces to Kabul have been reduced by 60 to 70 percent.

“Our property is smuggled to Pakistan, about ten to fifteen vehicles full of livestock are smuggled to Pakistan in 24 hours,” said Haji Khudayar, a livestock lawyer in Kabul.

Kabul residents say that the price of meat in the Kabul markets has increased.

“People cannot afford to buy it, people do not have money and most of the people are jobless, a kilo of meat costs five hundred afghani,” said Zaryali, a Kabul resident.