Indian Medicines Replace Pakistani Drugs in Afghanistan: Cheaper, Effective Options Gain Ground

Indian pharmaceutical products are increasingly replacing Pakistani medicines in Afghanistan, driven by lower prices, improving availability and shifting political ties between Kabul and Islamabad. The change has become visible at the retail level, with Afghan consumers and pharmacists actively opting for Indian alternatives.

An Afghan vlogger, Fazal Afghan, recently shared his experience on X, describing how a pharmacist recommended Indian-made paracetamol over Pakistani and Turkish brands. According to him, the Indian tablets were four times cheaper and delivered quicker relief. His post summed up a growing sentiment on Afghan streets: Indian medicines are gradually replacing Pakistani ones.

Why Pakistani medicines are losing ground

Until recently, Pakistan dominated Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical market, supplying over 70% of medicines, largely due to proximity and easy land routes via Torkham and Chaman. However, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan sharply deteriorated after repeated border clashes in 2025.

Following the escalation, the Taliban-led government imposed an immediate ban on Pakistani medicines, citing poor quality and safety concerns. Border closures disrupted supply chains, triggering shortages of antibiotics, insulin and cardiac drugs, with reports of price gouging and counterfeit sales.

India steps in with large-scale medical support

As shortages deepened, India moved quickly to fill the gap. In November 2025, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the airlifting of 73 tonnes of life-saving medicines to Kabul. This followed earlier shipments of vaccines, ambulances, CT scanners and emergency medical supplies sent after earthquakes and during the Covid-19 period.

In the last four years alone, India has supplied over 327 tonnes of medical aid to Afghanistan and committed to building hospitals, maternity clinics and specialised centres for oncology, trauma and diagnostics.

Indian pharma gains market share

With Pakistani imports drying up, Indian pharmaceutical exports to Afghanistan surged. India exported medicines worth $108 million in FY 2024–25, with estimates suggesting exports crossed $100 million in 2025 alone. India now accounts for 12–15% of Afghanistan’s pharma market, a figure expected to rise sharply.

A major boost came in November 2025 when Zydus Lifesciences signed a $100 million MoU with Afghanistan’s Rofi’s International Group. The deal includes exports, technology transfer and plans for local manufacturing, reducing Kabul’s dependence on imports.

A broader shift in Afghanistan’s medicine supply

Taliban officials are also in talks with Indian industry bodies such as Pharmexcil for joint ventures, labs and production plants. Given Afghanistan imports 85–96% of its medicines, reliability and affordability are now the top priorities.

What began as a pharmacist offering a cheaper painkiller reflects a larger realignment in Afghanistan’s healthcare supply chain. As Indian medicines gain trust for quality and cost-effectiveness, Pakistan’s once-dominant position in the Afghan pharma market continues to shrink.