India, Afghanistan to appoint commercial attaches to boost bilateral trade

India and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have agreed to appoint dedicated commercial attaches in each other’s capitals as part of a renewed push to expand bilateral trade, currently valued at more than $1 billion.

The decision was finalized during a meeting in New Delhi between Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Hajji Nooruddin Azizi and India’s Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasad.

According to M. Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary of the PAI Division, both sides have committed to stationing trade attaches in their respective embassies to support and monitor trade cooperation. “The Afghan minister will soon be sending a trade attaché to the embassy here,” he said on Friday.

Prakash added that the air freight corridor connecting Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar has been reactivated, with cargo flights expected to begin shortly. “This will significantly enhance and further strengthen our bilateral trade,” he noted.

The development comes just days after Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar instructed Afghan traders to gradually end commercial dependence on Pakistan within three months, citing repeated border closures and what he described as the “political misuse” of trade routes.

India and Afghanistan have also agreed to revive joint working groups on trade, commerce, and investment. Officials say the goal is to restore trade volumes to their pre-2021 level of more than USD 1.8 billion by fully operationalising the Chabahar Port route and simplifying customs and banking procedures.

During the meeting, Azizi urged India to expedite business visas, establish regular shipping lines from Chabahar Port, support the development of dry ports in Nimruz province, and streamline processes for Afghan goods passing through India’s Nhava Sheva Port.

Both sides also agreed to encourage joint investments in pharmaceuticals, cold storage networks, fruit processing, industrial parks, SME centres, and export processing zones. Azizi further proposed regular exhibitions, B2B engagements, and sector-focused conferences to deepen commercial ties.

The Indian delegation assured swift action, including strengthening air cargo links and banking channels, to boost economic cooperation. Azizi and his high-level delegation arrived in New Delhi earlier this week for a five-day official visit.