At least five people were injured after Taliban fighters opened fire on protesting pharmacists and their employees in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, following an attempt by Taliban authorities to confiscate Pakistani medicines, according to local reports.
The incident occurred in the Sarak-e-Naw area of Kandahar city, where Taliban personnel reportedly arrived to launch an operation against Pakistani medicines and seize the stocks. The move triggered strong opposition from local pharmacists and their employees, who gathered around the Taliban personnel’s vehicle to protest the action.
The situation reportedly escalated during the confrontation, prompting Taliban personnel to open fire on the protesters. At least five people sustained injuries in the shooting. Further details about the condition of the injured and whether any arrests were made were not immediately available.
The incident has raised further concerns over the treatment of Afghan traders and ordinary citizens under the Taliban administration, particularly those whose livelihoods and access to essential goods are affected by restrictive policies.
Pharmaceutical businesses and medicine supplies are directly linked to public health, making the reported seizure operation particularly contentious. Pakistani medicines are among the products involved in cross-border commercial activity between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The reported use of firearms against people protesting the confiscation of medicines has also renewed questions about the Taliban authorities’ response to public grievances and their handling of peaceful demonstrations.
The international community, the United Nations and human rights organizations have been urged to take notice of the incident, investigate the shooting and ensure accountability for those responsible. Calls have also been made for safeguards against the use of force to suppress public protests and for the protection of Afghan citizens’ rights to livelihood, healthcare and peaceful expression.
The confrontation comes amid a wider controversy over the Taliban’s restrictions on Pakistani pharmaceutical products. The ban on Pakistani medicine imports, which took effect on February 9, 2026, has disrupted Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical supply chain. Pharmacists and traders have previously reported shortages, rising prices and difficulties finding affordable alternatives.
Local sources have also alleged that medicines brought into Afghanistan through legal channels, with customs duties already paid, were among the products targeted for confiscation. The reported crackdown has therefore sparked concerns among pharmaceutical businesses over the future of their operations and the availability of essential medicines.
