Prices of Essential Goods Spike in Kabul as Border Closures Enter Sixth Week
Prices of Essential Goods Spike in Kabul as Border Closures Enter Sixth Week
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Prices of staple goods in Kabul have risen sharply as the closure of key border crossings with Pakistan enters its sixth week, deepening Afghanistan’s economic crisis and placing greater strain on vulnerable households, Amu TV reported. Merchants say the prolonged shutdown has disrupted supply routes and pushed the cost of flour, rice and cooking oil beyond what many families can afford.
Shopkeepers in several Kabul districts report that prices for essential items have climbed steadily in recent weeks. Flour has increased by roughly 100 afghanis per 49-kilogram sack, while some varieties of rice have risen by up to 300 afghanis. A 16-liter container of cooking oil now costs about 250 afghanis more than before the border restrictions took effect. These jumps have left many residents struggling to cover the cost of basic food staples.
As of this week, a sack of flour is being sold for between 1,560 and 1,600 afghanis, while cooking oil is priced between 1,900 and 2,000 afghanis depending on brand and quality. A sack of rice ranges from 2,700 to 3,000 afghanis, a significant increase for families already coping with reduced income and limited employment opportunities. Residents say the rising prices are placing unprecedented pressure on household budgets.
Local shoppers describe worsening conditions, with some saying they can no longer afford even the most essential items. One Kabul resident said everyday costs have multiplied, noting that items once priced at one afghani now cost three. Another resident, who supports his family by pushing a cart, said the soaring prices have left him unable to purchase basic food supplies.
The closures have now disrupted trade for more than 39 days, blocking key crossings such as Torkham, a major commercial route for food, fuel and consumer goods. The shutdown stems from diplomatic tensions and security disputes between Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities and Pakistan, which have stalled negotiations to reopen the border. The loss of regular trade has slowed deliveries and further strained markets inside Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned Tuesday that prolonged restrictions could severely damage bilateral trade, which normally has the potential to exceed $5 billion annually. The chamber urged Pakistan to resolve the crisis quickly, noting that continued disruptions could push trade volumes below $1 billion. For ordinary Afghans, however, the impact is immediate and severe: rising food prices, widespread unemployment and a fragile economy struggling to withstand ongoing regional instability.
