Uruzgan Youth Lose Jobs Transporting Goods to Pakistan Amid Border Closures

Youth in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province say they have lost their jobs transporting goods between Afghanistan and Pakistan following an increase in clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan.

The young men, who previously earned a living by traveling across the border for trade, report being unemployed with no local opportunities available. Mohammad Akhgbar, a resident of Uruzgan, said: "Pakistan has closed its borders to us, and we can't go to Iran either. Conditions in Pakistan are also bad, and we can't go to that country anymore."

Azizullah, another resident, added: "We can't go to Pakistan at all. The roads are closed, and prices have also risen; a sack of flour has reached one thousand five hundred afghanis."

Kamal, a third resident, stated: "We are very unemployed. There is no work in our area, and we have nothing to eat at home."

Women who support their families through local work, such as wool spinning, also report limited opportunities that fail to cover basic expenses. Qamargul, a resident, said: "I have nothing at home for my children to eat. My life goes on with wool spinning. I spin one kilo of wool for fifty afghanis. With this money, I have to cover my children's expenses, while they also get sick and need treatment."

Uruzgan, a southern province, has an economy largely dependent on residents' travel to Iran and Pakistan. The closure of these borders has sharply reduced job opportunities for local youth.