India–Afghanistan Air Cargo Corridor Activated; Flights to Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar to Begin Soon

New Delhi: India on Friday announced the operationalisation of a long-awaited air freight corridor with Afghanistan, with direct cargo flights set to commence shortly on the Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar routes.

The announcement was made by Joint Secretary (Pakistan–Afghanistan–Iran) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Anand Prakash, during a visit to India by Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi.

“I am happy to inform you that the air cargo corridor between Kabul and Delhi, as well as Kabul and Amritsar, has now been activated. Cargo flights on these sectors will start very soon,” Prakash said, adding that the new service will significantly boost connectivity and deepen bilateral trade and commercial relations.

Speaking at an interactive business session organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), the MEA official revealed two additional steps agreed upon during talks held on Thursday:

- Both countries will appoint dedicated trade attachés to their respective embassies to facilitate and monitor trade activities.
- The India–Afghanistan Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment will be revived to identify new opportunities and remove bottlenecks.

Prakash noted that current bilateral trade stands at approximately US$1 billion but holds substantial potential for expansion. “Active participation from the business communities of both nations will be crucial to make this joint working group truly effective,” he emphasised.

The developments mark a significant step in restoring and expanding economic ties between India and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan following the reactivation of diplomatic and trade channels in recent years.

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