India and Afghanistan are preparing to restart air cargo services, an Indian foreign ministry official said on Friday, marking a significant but understated shift in their post-2021 relationship. The announcement came during a visit to New Delhi by Taliban Trade Minister Nooruddin Azizi, who urged India to revive trade links and open cargo hubs as Afghanistan struggles to access food, medicines and industrial goods after Pakistan shut its border following military clashes.
Anand Prakash, a joint secretary in India’s foreign ministry, said the Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar air freight corridors have already been “activated” and are ready for use. India has completed its side of the formalities, and flights will begin once Afghanistan submits the remaining documents. Indian airlines cannot fly to Afghanistan because Pakistan has closed its airspace to them, but Afghan carriers continue regular passenger flights to Delhi.
Although New Delhi does not recognise the Taliban government, both sides have moved quickly in recent months to re-establish practical engagement a shift driven in part by India’s deteriorating relationship with Pakistan and its concern that China is expanding its influence in Afghanistan. Last month’s visit to India by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was the first since the group returned to power in 2021. India has since reopened its embassy in Kabul, signalling a more pragmatic posture.
The Diplomatic Backdrop
India and Afghanistan enjoyed close political and economic ties before the Taliban takeover in 2021, with India investing heavily in Afghan infrastructure and development. Those links collapsed when the previous government fell, forcing New Delhi to evacuate its embassy and suspend most contact. The Taliban’s renewed engagement with India comes at a moment when Afghanistan’s trade routes through Pakistan are unreliable, and when the country’s economy is under intense pressure due to shortages and sanctions.
Why It Matters
The reopening of air cargo corridors gives Afghanistan a vital alternative to Pakistan-based trade routes, which have repeatedly been disrupted by border clashes and political tensions. For India, the move strengthens its strategic foothold in Afghanistan at a time when China is deepening its economic presence there. The decision also reflects a broader recalibration in the region, with New Delhi reshaping its approach to the Taliban despite maintaining a policy of non-recognition.
Government of India
Taliban authorities
Pakistan
China
Indian and Afghan traders and exporters
What’s Next
Cargo flights are expected to begin as soon as Kabul completes documentation for the revived corridors. If operations prove smooth, India may expand the routes and deepen its trade engagement, though formal diplomatic recognition remains unlikely in the near term. Pakistan’s response could influence how far and how fast these air links develop, especially as regional competition for influence in Afghanistan intensifies.
With information from Reuters.
