On January 8, 2024, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a meeting with the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Dubai. They discussed several major aspects of bilateral relations and regional developments during their conversation.
The Foreign Secretary highlighted India’s long-standing friendship with the Afghan people and the deep cultural and social ties shared by the two nations. He assured Afghanistan of India’s commitment to addressing the immediate developmental needs of its people.
The discussions included a review of the ongoing Indian humanitarian assistance programmes in Afghanistan. The Afghan Minister expressed gratitude to India for its unwavering support and engagement with the Afghan people. Recognizing the current developmental challenges, both sides agreed that India would explore additional development projects in the near future, complementing its ongoing humanitarian efforts.
India’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan has been extensive and diverse. Several shipments have already been sent, including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, 300 tons of medicines, 27 tons of earthquake relief supplies, 40,000 liters of pesticides, and 100 million doses of polio vaccines. Additional aid has included 1.5 million doses of COVID vaccines, 11,000 hygiene kits for drug de-addiction programs, 500 units of winter clothing, and 1.2 tons of stationery kits.
Responding to a request from Afghanistan, India has committed to further material support, particularly in the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees. Both sides also discussed strengthening their collaboration in sports, especially cricket, which holds meaningful value for Afghanistan’s youth. Additionally, they agreed on promoting the use of the Chabahar Port to enhance trade and provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
The Afghan leadership acknowledged India’s security concerns and expressed its understanding of these sensitivities. Both parties agreed to maintain regular communication and continue engagements at various levels to further strengthen their ties.
In addition to this, India has been closely connected with Afghanistan for decades. During Hamid Karzai’s government, Former President of Afghanistan, India played an important role in boosting trade and providing significant help to the country.
Why is the Chabahar Port important for Afghanistan and India?
Chabahar Port is very important for both Afghanistan and India, especially for trade and regional connectivity. The strategic port is located in Iran and acts as a gateway to Central Asia and South Asia.
Source: The Indian Express
If we look at the map, Chabahar Port is close to a tri-junction called Zahedan. Zahedan connects Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, making it an important trade hub.
For Afghanistan, Chabahar Port provides a direct route to India through Zahedan without involving Pakistan. This reduces Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistan for trade and helps build stronger economic ties with India, making trade smoother and more efficient.
For India, Chabahar Port gives a secure and reliable route to trade with Afghanistan and other countries like the whole of Central Asia. It also reinforced India’s efforts to improve regional connectivity and support Afghanistan’s economic development.
But why has Chabahar become the ultimate option for trading?
For decades, India has repeatedly requested Pakistan to cooperate in facilitating the trading process. The initial plan was to establish a trade route starting from Punjab to Lahore, passing through Islamabad to Kabul in Afghanistan, and further connecting to Central Asia. However, Pakistan consistently rejected this proposal. Pakistan has shown reluctance to engage in any process that could, in any way, benefit India.
Acknowledging Pakistan’s unwillingness to cooperate, India decided to create Chabahar Port in Iran. This port offers a direct trade route from Mumbai, bypassing Pakistan entirely, and has become an integral option for regional trade.
Now, Afghanistan only needs to move goods from Kabul to Zahedan, and India will take care of the rest. India has already invested billions and will continue investing to build a strong system for managing goods and trade.