The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce has stated in a press release that Pakistan's imposition of a 2% tax on Afghanistan's transit goods has severely disrupted bilateral trade.

The chamber emphasized that Afghan traders, due to increased costs at the Torkham crossing, are seeking alternative routes, including through Iran.

Junaid Maqda, the president of the chamber, added that trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan could reach $7 billion; however, Pakistan's restrictive measures have hindered this growth.

Naqibullah Safi, the executive director of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said: “A statement from this chamber stresses that this type of tax must be eliminated because it not only disrupts trade but also increases the cost of Pakistan's exports and forces Afghan traders to look for alternative routes.”

Some Afghan traders consider Pakistan's new tariff policy to be against the principles of global trade.

Abdul Ghafoor Naseri, head of the Kabul Fresh Fruit and Vegetable General Council, said: “We request the Pakistani government to remove the transit tax of 2%, which is imposed on our goods, amounting to between 120,000 and 150,000 rupees per truck. Although we already pay the soil charges owed to them, this additional tax is burdensome for us.”

Mirwais Haji Zada, deputy head of Afghanistan's Chamber of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, also added:  “Transit means the exchange of goods between two countries without additional costs, with minimal charges. It is against trade policies for a friendly neighboring country to impose tariffs on transit goods. Other neighboring countries are taking advantage of this situation and capturing the Afghan market.”

Previously, the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce had also announced that existing challenges had reduced Afghanistan's export levels to Pakistan in the current solar year.

The chamber also noted that it is working to increase Afghanistan's exports to India, Russia, and Arab countries.