In a significant though somewhat symbolic gesture, the Ministry of External Affairs Friday announced that an air freight corridor between New Delhi and Kabul would be launched over the weekend. In his weekly media briefing, MEA spokesman Gopal Baglay said that the frequency of the flight, initially to be operated by Afghanistan’s Ariana Airlines, would be decided later depending on the demand and costs, but could be either monthly or even fortnightly. He said the inaugural flight would be given a warm ceremonial reception by both nations. While India imports fresh fruits, raisins, vegetables, oil seeds and precious stones from Afghanistan, Indian exports to Kabul include man-made staple fibres, cereals, electrical goods, dairy produce, eggs and pharmaceuticals.
Trade between India and Afghanistan is hamstrung by Pakistan’s consistent refusal to allow any transit rights. Currently, Afghanistan, a landlocked nation, ships most of its exports through the Pakistani port of Karachi, and a lot of that is impacted by the acrimonious relationship between Kabul and Islamabad over the issues of terrorism.
Currently, Indian civilian flights overfly Pakistan en route to West Asia and Europe, and the cargo aircraft would be subject to clearly stipulated international procedures which govern such flights. India is also trying to build an alternative trade corridor to Afghanistan—and from there to Central Asia—through the Iranian port of Chabahar.
Last year, during his visit to Tehran, PM Narendra Modi inked the India, Iran and Afghanistan trade corridor pact with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The plan aims to connect Chabahar to Zahedan in Iran to Zaranj and beyond in Afghanistan. Afghan goods reaching Zahedan could be transported by a 1,380-km rail link to Chabahar and shipped to India. “We wanted to prove that geography is not our destiny. With our will, we can change geography,” Ghani had said. Sadly, that message is unlikely to go down well in Islamabad.