Afghanistan’s Taliban administration has stepped up its outreach to India with acting Industry and Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi pitching Kabul as open to business during a five day visit to New Delhi against the backdrop of a crippling border shutdown with Pakistan. He is seeking greater Indian investment and deeper trade ties as Afghan exporters face heavy losses due to repeated closures of key land crossings with Pakistan and disruptions at the Torkham and other border posts.
Azizi’s trip is among the highest level visits by a Taliban minister to India since the group seized power in Kabul in 2021 and follows last month’s visit by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. During meetings with Indian officials including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar the focus has been on expanding bilateral trade connectivity and people to people exchanges while reinforcing India’s stated support for the welfare and development of the Afghan people.
The Afghan minister is leading a high level delegation that has taken part in the India International Trade Fair 2025 in New Delhi where Afghan businesses showcased products such as dry fruits carpets gemstones and handicrafts that Kabul hopes to scale up in the Indian market. India remains one of Afghanistan’s key trade partners exporting pharmaceuticals textiles machinery and food staples and importing Afghan agricultural goods and minerals with Kabul now courting Indian investment in mining and hydroelectric projects.
Azizi’s message that Kabul is open to business comes as tensions with Pakistan have worsened after border clashes and strikes that shut or restricted vital trade routes. In response Afghanistan has intensified efforts to reroute trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port expand direct air cargo links with India and explore alternative corridors via Central Asia as part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on Pakistan and diversify markets.
Indian officials have indicated that air cargo services between India and Afghanistan will be launched soon while diplomatic engagement has been upgraded with India restoring its mission in Kabul to full embassy status in October 2025. Analysts see the enhanced trade dialogue and connectivity plans as a cautious but significant reset that allows India to protect its economic and strategic interests in Afghanistan even as it continues to withhold formal recognition of the Taliban administration.
