Afghanistan’s Taliban commerce minister, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for his first visit to enhance trade relations and attract investments. The visit comes as Afghanistan seeks to strengthen ties with India amid deteriorating relations with neighboring Pakistan.
Azizi’s trip follows India’s recent decision to reopen its embassy in Kabul, a move that marks the country’s first formal step toward engaging with the Taliban since the group’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. India also ramped up its aid and trade efforts, competing with China for influence in the region.
During his stay, Azizi is expected to hold talks with India’s commerce minister, the foreign minister, and Indian traders and investors. The discussions will focus on expanding economic cooperation, facilitating trade, and creating investment opportunities. Afghanistan, a landlocked country, is seeking essential supplies like grains, medicines, and industrial goods as it struggles with border closures and escalating tensions with Pakistan.
India has long been involved in Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in Iran, a key trade route. This partnership helps reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on the Pakistani port of Karachi. Trade via Iran has surged to $1.6 billion in the past six months, surpassing the $1.1 billion exchanged with Pakistan.
Despite these developments, India does not officially recognize the Taliban government, although the two countries are recalibrating their ties due to the strained situation with Pakistan.
