Afghanistan shifts trade to Iran, India amidst tension with Pak

 

Afghanistan is accelerating a long-brewing pivot, rerouting commerce through Iran and India, and forging new economic lifelines that could reshape the region’s trade dynamics. The decision marks a watershed. For decades, Pakistan dominated Afghanistan’s trade, with imports through Karachi’s port and crossings like Torkham, which it sought to use as leverage. Over the past six months, Afghan-Iranian trade has surged to $1.626 billion, eclipsing the $1.108 billion with Pakistan, according to Afghan government data. Trade with Iran comes with linkages to the world as well, through the Chabahar Port. Developed with Indian support and investment, Chabahar offers a sanctions-resilient gateway to the Arabian Sea, bypassing Pakistan entirely. As India ties firm up, with its embassy in Kabul reopened and a fresh US sanctions waiver for Chabahar in hand, New Delhi is ramping up exports of wheat and medicines, filling voids left by Pakistani suppliers, as per a report.

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