Afghan Minister’s New Delhi Visit Signals Deepening India–Taliban Economic Engagement

Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi landed in New Delhi on 19 November 2025 for a crucial five-day visit, the most significant ministerial contact between India and the Taliban administration since the 2021 takeover. With Pakistan repeatedly shutting vital border crossings and causing massive losses to Afghan exporters, Kabul has decided it can no longer depend on its western neighbour for transit and is actively building Pakistan-free economic corridors centred on India.

At the India International Trade Fair 2025, Minister Azizi personally led a high-profile Afghan delegation that displayed premium saffron, pistachios, almonds, hand-woven carpets, lapis lazuli, and traditional handicrafts. He spent hours engaging with Indian trade officials and Afghan business communities already operating in the country, identifying concrete steps to ease customs delays, improve banking channels, and secure greater shelf space for Afghan products across Indian markets.

The visit rides a wave of recent diplomatic warmth. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s trip to India was followed by public praise for New Delhi’s hospitality, and last month India formally upgraded its Kabul mission to full embassy status. Both capitals are now accelerating the dedicated air freight corridor that already runs two daily cargo flights, with Indian logistics firms ready to add more aircraft and tonnage in the coming weeks.

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The once-promising Chabahar Port route through Iran has been rendered unusable by continuing US sanctions, forcing Afghanistan to abandon it for now. Instead, Kabul is pouring energy into direct air links with India and actively inviting Indian companies to invest in untapped lithium and copper mines as well as medium-sized hydroelectric projects along northern rivers.

Through these deliberate moves, Afghanistan is sending an unmistakable message to Islamabad while locking in India as its primary trade, investment, and connectivity partner for the long term, marking a major realignment in regional economic ties.

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