Afghanistan is making strong moves to strengthen its trade with India as Ariana Afghan Airlines announces dramatic cargo rate cuts on the Delhi route. More than halving the cost of shipment with the airline’s move points to a strategic shift in Kabul’s economic priorities decisively toward India, Iran and Central Asia, sidestepping Pakistan.
Ariana Afghan Airlines Cargo Discount
Starting immediately, Afghan exports ranging from pomegranates, almonds and saffron will be shipped to Delhi at just $1 a kilogram. Imports from India will now cost 80 cents a kilogram, down from the previous $2 a kilogram rate.
According to Mawlawi Bakhturahman Sharafat, the Director General of Ariana Afghan Airlines, these unparalleled discounts are exclusive to India, reflecting strong political and commercial ties between the two nations.
Strategic Implications for Afghanistan
The timing of the announcement is significant. Pakistan’s closure of the Torkham crossing, which used to carry the bulk of Afghanistan-Pakistan trade, accelerated Kabul’s search for alternative economic partners. Afghanistan’s trade with Iran has jumped to $1.626 billion in six months, surpassing trade with Pakistan, valued at $1.108 billion.
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Indian investments in Iran’s Chabahar Port provide Afghanistan with a critical Pakistan free access to the sea, further strengthening regional trade integration.
New Cargo Routes to India
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi recently announced new direct cargo flights that link Delhi with Kabul and Amritsar with Kabul and Kandahar. These flights will be able to bring fresh Afghan produce to India in a matter of hours, rather than weeks, minimizing spoilage and making trade much easier and efficient.
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Such a move will not only help Afghan exporters but also reinforce economic cooperation with Indian businessmen who are willing to invest in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Rewritten Economic Map
By giving priority to India and finding alternative gateways through Iran, for instance, Afghanistan is shaping its new trading architecture. The discounts on cargo are more than a commercial concession with a loud geopolitical message that Kabul is looking for reliable partners outside the traditional Pakistan centric trade routes.
This economic reorientation underlines a strategy for sustainable growth in the face of regional tensions and shifting alliances.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, based on publicly available data on Afghan trade and Ariana Afghan Airlines cargo policies.
