KABUL: The World Bank has said in its latest report that a significant portion of Afghanistan’s trade has shifted to Central Asian and Iranian routes following disruptions to the country’s trade corridors with Pakistan.
According to the report, changes in Afghanistan’s trade routes have made Central Asian countries and Iran the primary transit corridors for the country’s imports and exports.
The report states that a substantial share of Afghanistan’s imports is now transported through Central Asian corridors and Iran, while Pakistan’s role in facilitating Afghanistan’s trade has declined sharply and, in some cases, has fallen to nearly zero.
For many years, Afghanistan relied heavily on Pakistan as its main trade route. However, recent disruptions in bilateral trade have prompted the country to increasingly use alternative routes through Central Asia and Iran.