Taliban’s trade Minister in Delhi amidst Afghanistan-Pakistan clashes to enhance sea connectivity

Against the backdrop of continued hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Taliban administration Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi started a five-day tour of India on Wednesday (November 19, 2025).

Official sources said the visit, which highlights Afghanistan’s desire to avoid Pakistani ports for its commercial requirements, will help Afghanistan bypass Pakistan for enhanced connectivity.

The visit is being viewed as a significant outreach by the Taliban administration as it is taking place a month after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Delhi when both sides strengthened the air freight corridor to enhance direct trade and commerce. The air corridor between the two sides will connect Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar with Kabul and Kandahar.

Mr. Azizi, who has come with a large business delegation, visited the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 on Wednesday (November 19, 2025) to strengthen bilateral trade and investment. The visiting Afghan team met Neeraj Kharwal, Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organisation, who explained opportunities for greater participation of Afghanistan in future trade events in India. Mr. Azizi met with a number of Indian business representatives soon after his arrival in New Delhi.

Mr. Azizi visited stalls set up by Afghan traders in the IITF that are showcasing Afghan agricultural products. The visit by the Afghan trade Minister, a first since 2021 when the Taliban took charge of Kabul, is expected to boost key Indian exports to Afghanistan, such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery, sugar, tea and rice. India is keen to import Afghan agricultural products such as fresh and dry fruits, and minerals that have a sizable market in India.

Sources said the visit by Mr. Azizi will provide both sides an opportunity to explore greater Indian investment options in the Afghan mining sector and hydroelectric projects. Diplomatic sources said that Afghanistan, in recent months, has been using the Chabahar port of Iran for most of its commercial requirements as it tries to reduce dependence on the Karachi port.

The Taliban administration has ordered Afghan traders to stop using Pakistani ports and commercial networks after a peace talk between Afghanistan and Pakistan brokered by Turkey failed to resolve the conflict that intensified when the Pakistan air force bombed targets inside Afghanistan on October 9. Pakistan has been accusing the Taliban of supporting Tehreek–e–Taliban Pakistan for carrying out terror strikes inside Pakistan.