Thu Nov 20 16:22:12 UTC 2025: News Article:

India Reinforces Support for Afghanistan, Focuses on Trade and Connectivity

New Delhi, November 20, 2025 – India has reaffirmed its commitment to the development and welfare of the Afghan people, with a strong emphasis on enhancing trade and connectivity between the two nations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with visiting Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, in New Delhi on Thursday, marking the second high-level engagement between the two countries in recent months.

During the meeting, Minister Jaishankar reiterated India’s support for Afghanistan, focusing on strengthening trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties. Minister Azizi, who arrived in India on Wednesday for a five-day visit, also met with Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, where discussions centered on strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Key areas of discussion included the effective utilization of Iran’s Chabahar port, the establishment of dry ports in Afghanistan’s Nimruz province, and streamlining import-export processes at Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai. The Afghan delegation also requested expedited visa processing for Afghan traders and explored the possibility of establishing industrial parks in Afghanistan.

Minister Azizi’s visit comes at a crucial time, following calls from the Taliban administration in Kabul for Afghan traders to reduce trade with Pakistan and cease using the Karachi port. He is leading a large trade delegation, having already engaged with the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). This visit marks the first by an Afghan Minister to the ITPO since the Taliban takeover in 2021.

Sources indicate that the Afghanistan-India air freight corridor, expanded during the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in October, will soon be operationalized by Afghan civil aviation companies. This corridor aims to connect key Indian cities like Amritsar, Delhi, and Mumbai with Kandahar and Kabul. However, concerns remain regarding potential disruptions from Pakistan that could hinder the smooth functioning of these vital air routes.

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