Muzaffarabad, Oct. 25 -- The worsening conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has severely impacted the flow of fruits and vegetables across their shared borders, leading to a sharp rise in food prices and heavy losses for traders in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).

According to traders, the closure of cross-border trade for over a week has disrupted the regular supply of essential produce such as tomatoes, onions, pomegranates, grapes, and apples, most of which previously came from Kabul.

The halt in transport, they said, has caused massive spoilage of perishable goods and sent prices skyrocketing in local markets.

One trader, Hamza, said tomatoes that once sold for PKR 100 per kilogram are now priced at around PKR 500. "The...