Dried fruit traders in Zabul said that instead of exporting to Pakistan, there should be opportunities to export to other countries around the world.

According to them, Pakistan often raises customs tariffs on Afghanistan's exports, causing significant financial losses.

Dolat, a trader, said: "Everything is blocked; it doesn’t go to other countries. In the past, when it used to go, the prices were very good, but now the prices of dried fruits are not high."

Another trader, Sher Ali Zaheer, said, "They should make contracts for these dried fruits so they can be traded in other countries and reduce the tariffs on food products because our country is facing many challenges."

The head of Zabul's Industry and Commerce Department also said that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has signed trade agreements with various countries around the world, which will allow Afghan traders to trade with other countries instead of neighboring countries.

Nazeer Ahmad Hamza, the head of Zabul's Industry and Commerce Department, said, "Agreements have been made with four to five countries, and work is ongoing. These countries have promised not to take 100% tariffs on your exports."

Pakistan and India are the closest markets for dried fruits from southern Afghanistan, with hundreds of tons of dried fruits exported to global markets annually through these routes.