Afghanistan, May 10 -- Rising tensions in the Middle East have disrupted Afghanistan's trade and transit operations, leaving between 2,500 and 3,000 Afghan cargo containers stranded at the Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates, Afghan business officials said.
Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment said that the containers include raw materials intended for Afghan manufacturing factories and commercial goods awaiting transport through regional trade routes.
Khan Jan Alokozay, a board member of the chamber, said UAE authorities have stopped allowing Afghan transit goods to be loaded and shipped through Iran because of the deteriorating security situation in the Gulf region.
"Currently more than 2,500 to 3,000 containers remain...