These are depressing times for the staff at Herat carpets, who pass their days drinking copious quantities of tea and staring disconsolately at the nomadic tribal carpets they specialise in but cannot sell. The Afghan carpet industry - primary source of income for one million refugees in Pakistan - has been left in tatters by the latest conflict to hit their war-torn homeland.
Carpet traders estimate that up to 700,000 refugees could find themselves out of work within a month, with no alternative source of income.

Members of the relief organisation of Pak-Afghan carpet traders say new orders dried up after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington which precipitated the us-led military campaign in Afghanistan.
Most of our carpets are sold in America and Europe and this is supposed to be our busiest time with Christmas approaching, said Haji Naeem Walizada, president of the Carpet Traders Organisation.
But instead of doubling as usual, our business has practically stopped, said Walizada, who believes some western buyers are boycotting Afghan carpets.
Walizada's own business, Naeem Carpets, posted sales of 600,000 dollars in October 1999. This October, that figure plunged to just 50,000 dollars. Bureau Report