Pakistan authorities say the import of livestock, especially sheep, from Afghanistan for Eid-ul-Adha is unlikely due to the high prices.
Taliban authorities are understood to also have told Pakistani officials that sheep from Afghanistan will not be exported unless Pakistan allows Afghanistan to import cattle and buffaloes, Dawn News reported.
The Taliban has also reportedly told Pakistan that sheep are currently in short supply in the country.
Sources told Dawn that on May 31 a meeting was held between Taliban authorities and Pakistani officials on Afghanistan “sending” livestock to the border area of Torkham. The Taliban was asked to stop this until a “no objection certificate” had been issued by the Pakistan government.
Traders and livestock dealers have called for Pakistan to approve the importation of sheep in time for Eid.
Dawn reported that Mufti Ejaz, a leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-I-Islam-Fazl, argued that he along with a three-member committee of his party had formally conveyed their request to the Taliban’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to help resolve the issue and resume the export of sheep to Pakistan.
He claimed that the Taliban’s supreme leader had ordered the suspension of sheep being exported to Pakistan.
However, traders of livestock in Torkham, claimed that the resumption of import of Afghan sheep was impossible for multiple reasons.
Haji Dadeen, a Landi Kotal meat dealer, told Dawn: “We are dealing with the livestock import issue in a very superficial manner and start our efforts only when Eid-ul-Adha approaches. Persistent efforts are required to resolve it on a permanent basis,” he said.
The meat dealer said that the resumption of livestock imports from Afghanistan would not help bring down prices as the Afghan currency was stronger than Pakistan’s and that it would cost the local livestock’s dealers more if they opted for importing Afghan sheep.
