Shopkeepers and residents of Khwahan district in Badakhshan province said that Tajik border forces have recently started imposing customs duties on goods they bring to sell at the joint border market.

The shopkeepers said this move has created challenges for them and are calling on the authorities to resolve the issue.

Sayed Najibullah, a shopkeeper in Badakhshan, told TOLOnews: “There was no customs before. Now they say they will tax people’s goods, like charging 49 somoni on a carton of cake, while Afghan traders only earn 7 to 10 somoni profit on each carton.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Customs in Badakhshan said efforts are underway to address the issue.

Ruhullah Rohani, head of customs in Badakhshan, told TOLOnews: “We are working on this issue and have already spoken with the Tajik side. God willing, the matter has been partially resolved and will be fully resolved soon.”

Residents of Badakhshan are satisfied with the functioning of these border markets and consider them vital for meeting their needs.

Hashmatullah, another resident of Badakhshan, said: “This market helps meet both our needs and those of the Tajik people. We ask the Islamic Emirate to open the market for two days and ensure that the goods going to the other side do not face problems.”

Eshkashem, Sheghnan, Maimay, Nusay, and Khwahan are among the districts in Badakhshan that have such joint border markets.