Overview
- External affairs minister S. Jaishankar met Afghan industry and commerce minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi in New Delhi, citing support for Afghanistan’s development and discussing trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties.
- Azizi also met minister of state Jitin Prasada and proposed concrete steps for faster commerce, including scheduled shipping via Iran’s Chabahar port, dry ports in Nimroz, Indian cargo hubs, easier processing at Nhava Sheva and quicker business visas.
- Officials and reports said the two sides are working to expand air freight corridors, and Afghanistan’s Ariana Afghan Airlines cut cargo rates on the Delhi–Kabul route to stimulate trade, according to WION.
- Azizi led a delegation to the India International Trade Fair, met the ITPO managing director and engaged Afghan traders, marking the first Afghan ministerial visit to the ITPO since 2021.
- Afghan trade flows are shifting away from Pakistan after border closures, with Kabul reporting about $1.6 billion through Iran in the past six months versus $1.1 billion via Pakistan, as India recently upgraded its Kabul mission to embassy status.