Officials from Iran and Afghanistan have held talks aimed at facilitating Afghan traders' access to the Chabahar Port in an effort to increase bilateral trade.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced that a delegation led by Mohammad Karami, the governor of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, visited Kabul for discussions with Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s acting Minister of Industry and Commerce. The meeting focused on enhancing trade exchanges and expanding Afghanistan’s exports and imports through the Chabahar route.
Efforts to expand trade through Chabahar come amid a significant decline in trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan through Karachi port. Afghan traders have increasingly turned to Chabahar as their preferred trade hub due to logistical and political challenges with Pakistan this year.
Chabahar Port, partially operated by India, is Iran's only oceanic port, providing a critical link between Central Asia and East and South Asia. India is developing the port under a 10-year lease to facilitate exports to Afghanistan while bypassing Pakistan, with plans to later extend its trade reach to Central Asia.
The map shows how India is connected to landlocked Afghanistan via Iran's Chabahar port
Afghan and Iranian officials expressed optimism about deepening economic ties through Chabahar, which is poised to become a key gateway for Afghan goods to reach international markets.