RASC News Agency: Sources from Helmand province have reported the blockade of the currency exchange market in Lashkar Gah city and the apprehension of 20 exchange dealers by the Taliban for engaging in Pakistani rupee (Kaldar) transactions. According to sources on Wednesday, November 29, this incident transpired in the currency exchange market of Lashkar Gah city the previous day, and the Taliban have imposed a prohibition on the utilization of foreign currencies in transactions within the province. Based on information provided by Helmand’s exchange dealers, the majority of trade transactions in the southwestern region of the country are conducted using Pakistani rupees. However, the Taliban have impeded the execution of these exchange transactions and have additionally proscribed the use of Pakistani rupees.
According to them, the proscription on Pakistani rupees leads to significant losses for traders as they are now compelled to remit money in dollars to Pakistan. This predicament triples the losses incurred by traders. Meanwhile, exchange dealers in Helmand have embraced the prohibition on the use of Pakistani rupees in transactions. Nevertheless, they contend that the ban on Kaldari remittances adversely affects traders and the value of the Kabuli rupee. Importantly, the Taliban recently announced that the use of Pakistani rupees and their remittances is also prohibited in the Kandahar currency exchange market.
This development coincides with information suggesting that in the majority of provinces in the southwestern region of the country, a significant number of Afghanistani citizens lack familiarity with the Kabuli rupee/local currency due to their persistent use of Pakistani rupees. It is noteworthy that, according to information, the Taliban have maintained a positive relationship with Pakistan for an extended period. However, recent events, such as the presence of TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) on Afghanistan soil and the forced deportation of Afghanistani migrants from Pakistan, have caused relations between the two sides to deteriorate.
