Bitter pill: Taliban govt shakes up Afghan medicine market

The Taliban authorities announced in November that the decades-long dependency on medicine imports from Pakistan would soon end, a step taken after deadly border clashes with their neighbour. After the ban came into effect this month, finance ministry spokesman Abdul Qayoom Naseer told AFP that the government urged all importers to find "alternative and legal" sources to replace Pakistani supplies. Despite a three-month grace period to end existing contracts and clear customs, the shift presents...