Taliban Offer To Boost India Ties

• Taliban leader Nooruddin Azizi seeks stronger India Afghanistan trade
• Afghanistan pushes new routes and investment as Pakistan tensions rise

Hyderabad: The Taliban made a major offer to India as Afghanistan sought new trade partners amid its growing border crisis with Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, said the country wants to expand bilateral trade, investment and diplomatic relations with India. He explained that Afghanistan now needs reliable partners as trade routes through Pakistan face disruptions.

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Azizi is visiting India at a time when relations between Kabul and Islamabad have become strained. He said Afghanistan has opened its doors to trade with India. He also noted that this marks the first high level Taliban meeting in India after 2021. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has already ordered a temporary suspension of medicine imports from Pakistan due to ongoing tensions. Azizi said the main aim of his India visit is to find new trade channels and revive economic cooperation.

He explained that Afghanistan plans to reduce freight costs. Therefore, it will subsidize its national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines and encourage private airlines to join new trade routes. He also said Afghanistan wants to reduce tariffs and increase exports, including Afghan dry fruits and Indian medicines. The country now looks to sea routes through Iran and land routes through Asia as alternatives to Pakistan. Azizi added that India has shown interest in Afghanistan’s mineral reserves and rare earths.

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Azizi said Indian companies will receive equal opportunities in Afghanistan as long as they follow local rules. He also said Afghanistan will soon send a trade proposal to India to support a positive trade environment. He assured that Indian diplomats and the embassy in Kabul will receive full security. He also said Afghanistan will help Indian women entrepreneurs through its Chamber of Commerce. Later, he invited External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to visit Afghanistan in June or July next year.

The visit comes at a time when Afghanistan is searching for new economic links. The Taliban sees India as a key market for Afghan exports and a source of investment. Azizi’s statements underline the intent to shift long standing trade patterns and expand ties with India.

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