India and Afghanistan have agreed to operationalise a new Air Freight Corridor connecting Kabul with Delhi and Amritsar, a development expected to significantly boost bilateral trade and market access. The announcement came on Tuesday following week-long discussions in New Delhi with Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the new air corridor will “significantly facilitate” the movement of goods and enable Afghan producers to connect with Indian markets more efficiently. Officials described the initiative as a major outcome of Azizi’s visit, which focused on revitalising trade connectivity and strengthening economic cooperation.
During his meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, both sides reviewed bilateral ties, regional connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. Azizi also held delegation-level talks with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, where the two countries not only finalised the air corridor but agreed to reactivate the Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment.
To further institutionalise commercial ties, India and Afghanistan will appoint Commercial Representatives at their respective embassies and establish a Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Discussions also explored cooperation in mining and other high-value sectors.
Azizi met Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada and led a delegation to the India International Trade Fair (IITF-2025), where Afghan exhibitors participated in sectoral interactions with APEDA, TEXPROCIL, Cotton Corporation of India, AEPC, MATEXIL, PHDCCI, ASSOCHAM and PHARMEXCIL. Talks focused on long-term supply arrangements for agricultural products, medicines and essential commodities.
Officials said the visit underlined the resolve of both nations to strengthen economic linkages despite regional complexities.
“India remains committed to working closely with Afghanistan to advance this partnership in a manner that delivers sustainable benefits to the people of both countries,” the MEA stated.