Afghan farmers turn their grapes into raisins after border closures slash fruit exports to Pakistan - EverythingLubbock.com

Islamabad asserts that Afghanistan's Taliban government shelters militants who conduct attacks inside Pakistan, an accusation Kabul denies. These ongoing conflicts directly led to the border closures, disrupting a critical trade route and preventing fresh Afghan fruit from reaching its usual buyers. Without fresh grape exports, producers and workers lose their main source of income.

This forced adaptation to process grapes into raisins dramatically alters their business model and the economic value of their crop. Farmers are left managing a large crop without its traditional market access. Despite the large harvest, the persistent border conflict has transformed a potentially prosperous grape season into an unexpected challenge for thousands of Afghan farmers.