ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Interim Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation with India, according to a statement by the Indian ministry of external affairs (MEA).
The visit, made at the invitation of the Indian government, aims to “activate and effectively utilize the capacities of the Chabahar port and develop bilateral trade between the two countries,” the Afghan ministry of commerce said in an official statement.
During the visit, Azizi’s delegation is scheduled to meet with Indian officials, including the minister of external affairs, as well as traders, investors, and representatives of the private sector, the statement added.
The Afghanistan delegation visited the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 on Wednesday, Indian media reported. Managing director of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) Neeraj Kharwal met Azizi and briefed him on facilities at the fair and opportunities for Afghanistan to participate in future exhibitions.
Key Indian exports to Afghanistan include pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery, and food items such as sugar, tea and rice, while imports include agricultural products and minerals.
According to the interim Afghan government's state-run Bakhtar News Agency, the agenda of the visit includes key discussions on enhancing the operational capabilities of Chabahar Port, attracting investment, and expanding trade ties between Afghanistan and India.
"During his visit, Minister Azizi is scheduled to attend the Pragati Maidan Exhibition and will hold meetings with several senior Indian officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Commerce, and representatives from the private sector. This visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and promote cooperative economic opportunities," the state media reported on Wednesday.
“The focus of these meetings is to expand economic cooperation, facilitate trade relations, create joint investment opportunities, and strengthen Afghanistan’s role in the region’s transit routes,” the Afghan commerce ministry said.
Indian MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated the purpose of the trip in a statement posted on X, stating, “The focus of the visit is to advance bilateral trade and investment ties between India and Afghanistan.”
India-Afghanistan air corridor
An Indian media report, citing a senior Indian official reported that the two countries are now moving toward full-fledged trade through the India-Afghanistan air corridor, with two flights to Kabul operating daily and an Indian cargo firm onboard to expand capacity. While Afghanistan had hoped to revive shipping links through Iran's Chabahar Port, US sanctions have made the route "impossible at present", prompting both sides to double down on air connectivity.
The visit follows closely on the heels of interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's five-day trip to India in October. Analysts note the visits come amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which have strained diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
Talks between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban
Several rounds of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have taken place aimed at stopping cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
The first round of talks was held in Doha, Qatar, on Oct. 18-19, where an initial ceasefire agreement was reached with mediation from Türkiye and Qatar.
The second round took place in Istanbul from Oct. 25 to 30 to strengthen and extend the ceasefire.
A principal-level meeting took place on Nov. 6 in Istanbul, Türkiye, to finalize further implementation details, but it ended in a deadlock.
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