VOIWORLD
India and Afghanistan are preparing to launch dedicated air cargo services “very soon” in a move aimed at revitalising bilateral trade amid restricted land connectivity and mounting regional challenges.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi, who is currently visiting New Delhi, discussed the plan with Indian officials. India’s Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Anand Prakash confirmed that the corridor is ready from the Indian side, with the final paperwork awaited from Kabul. Once cleared, cargo flights linking Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar are expected to begin immediately.
The restart of the air corridor follows Afghanistan’s request that India scale up its trade engagement and diversify routes, including expanded use of Iran’s Chabahar Port. Kabul has also proposed establishing additional cargo hubs to handle exports such as fresh fruits, dry fruits, nuts, and carpets — products that depend heavily on fast and reliable transport links.
Officials from both nations said the revival of the mechanism will provide a critical boost to Afghan exporters, who have faced hurdles after disruptions to traditional overland routes via Pakistan. The initiative is also expected to support Indian businesses shipping essential commodities and pharmaceutical supplies to Afghanistan.
India and Afghanistan will also revive a joint working group on trade, commerce and investment to streamline documentation, customs processes and logistics. The two sides are exploring the appointment of trade attachés in each other’s capitals to further ease commercial engagement.
Although India does not formally recognise the Taliban administration, New Delhi has gradually resumed limited diplomatic and economic interactions, including reopening its embassy in Kabul for technical and humanitarian operations. The upcoming air cargo services are expected to function within this calibrated engagement framework.
With geopolitical uncertainties and limited surface connectivity, the air cargo link is seen as a commercially viable and strategically important option to ensure uninterrupted trade flow between the two countries. Flights are expected to begin as soon as the remaining formal approvals are completed.
