As the winter cold descends on the region, the Government of Iran is preventing more than 2,000 fuel tankers bound for Afghanistan from crossing the border.

The tankers have been stranded for several weeks. Afghanistan’s First Vice President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim recently visited Teheran to discuss the issue with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, assuring the Iranian head of state that the fuel was intended for the people of Afghanistan, not for the foreign forces stationed in the country. Reportedly Ahmadinejad said that the tankers would be allowed to move.

Border officials are allowing a trickle of tankers into the country, but thousands more remain stuck. Fuel is running short, prices are on the rise and people are beginning to panic. According to economic specialists, Afghanistan needs at least 100 tankers a day to supply its fuel needs

The price of a liter of oil has now reached 60 afghani, up from 46.

“The Afghan government should adopt strict measures to solve this issue,” said Abdul Latif, a fuel importer who is waiting for a shipment of fuel from Iran.  “The Afghan government should block the flow of water from Afghanistan to Iran.”

In Heart, which sits on the border with Iran, officials are trying to break the deadlock.

“We are developing a plan,” said Jalil Ahmad Azizi, deputy head of Herat’s Gas and Fuel Department. “We must solve this problem.”

According to Herat's governor, Dr. Daud Saba, the Iranian government is trying to prevent the supply of fuel to foreign forces.

“We have summoned the Iranian consul many times, but we have not been able to solve this problem,” he said. “Iran thinks that the fuel is going to the foreign troops, but they bring their own fuel in through Turkmenistan.”

Afghanistan cannot do without the import of goods from neighboring countries, say economists.

“Afghanistan does not produce much and has to get most of its necessary supplies from outside,” said economist Bashir Ahmad Ibrahimi. “This causes prices to rise when there is any stoppage of imports.”

He urged the government of Afghanistan to seek a constructive solution as quickly as possible.

“The government should sign contracts with other countries and open its other borders, so that it is not so dependent on Iran,” he said.