Amid growing concerns about the regional impacts of the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, fuel prices have also risen in Afghanistan since the start of the war.
In major cities, including Kabul, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif, prices of petrol, diesel, and gas have increased significantly over the past few days.
Fuel importers and traders in Balkh Province say that most petroleum products are imported through neighboring countries, and because of the war in Iran, prices have increased.
According to them, if the government increases investment in extracting oil from the Qashqari Oil Field, foreign wars will no longer affect the country’s fuel market.
Fuel trader Hayatullah Amiri said:
“The rise in fuel prices is due to the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Since yesterday, the prices of diesel and petrol have increased. We have rich oil reserves, and the Islamic Emirate should invest in them so that wars in other countries do not affect us.”
Some drivers in Mazar-i-Sharif also complain that rising fuel prices are negatively affecting their daily lives.
They say that if the situation continues, transport fares and the prices of essential goods will also increase.
According to them, over the past two days the price of one liter of fuel has reached 67 Afghanis, while one liter of liquid gas sells for 33 Afghanis, whereas previously a liter of fuel was sold between 50 and 60 Afghanis.
Driver Mohammad Taher said:
“Fuel and gas are expensive, and on the other hand there is no work. Since morning I have earned only 70 Afghanis.”
Another driver, Shafiullah, said:
“In Balkh province, one liter of liquid gas has increased by 8 Afghanis, and similarly the prices of everything else have risen.”
A resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, Arsalan, said:
“The government should cooperate in this area. Fuel has become 8 Afghanis more expensive in a single day, and this will seriously harm people and the economy.”
Afghanistan, which depends heavily on imports, is directly affected by any change in global oil prices. Rising fuel prices not only increase economic pressure but also deepen social problems.
Officials say that, in addition to increasing domestic extraction levels, survey and research work has also begun on oil blocks in northern Afghanistan, adding that the country may export oil in the future.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan, Homayoun Afghan, said:
“Oil extraction is currently underway in the Amu Darya oil basin in northern Afghanistan, and efforts are being made to increase production. Surveys of three blocks in the Afghan-Tajik basin are also underway, along with exploration in the Katawaz and Helmand basins, which are making good progress. There are also developments in the Herat basin. Overall, the Islamic Emirate aims to explore and extract Afghanistan’s hydrocarbon, oil, and gas resources so that we can not only become self-sufficient but also export in the future.”
These statements come at a time when Afghanistan still relies heavily on imported energy.
Economic experts believe that if the war between Iran and Israel expands, oil prices may rise further, which would affect not only Afghanistan but also other countries in the region.
