• India has reactivated the Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar airfreight corridors, restoring a critical trade route disrupted since 2020, with the move aimed at stabilising supply chains and improving predictability for high-value, time-sensitive goods.
• The corridors support Afghanistan’s export of perishables like dried fruits and nuts, and India’s export of pharmaceuticals and essentials, leveraging Delhi and Amritsar’s enhanced infrastructure for cold-chain logistics and rapid turnaround.
• Institutional measures, including a reactivated Joint Working Group on Trade and plans for Commercial Representatives and a Joint Chamber of Commerce, aim to strengthen bilateral trade engagement, improve cargo planning, and integrate the corridor into broader regional logistics networks.

India’s decision to reactivate the Afghanistan–India air freight corridors represents one of the most consequential shifts in regional air logistics since bilateral trade was disrupted in 2020. With overland routes still constrained and trade flows undergoing structural change, the reopening signals a shared effort to restore commercial predictability and stabilise supply chains that rely heavily on air transport.

The announcement coincided with the visit of Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, H.E. Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, who led a trade delegation to India from 19–25 November 2025. The visit included meetings with senior officials, industry associations and export councils, reflecting Kabul’s deliberate push to rebuild trade channels weakened over the past five years.

Speaking in New Delhi, Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed:

“I am pleased to announce that the air freight corridor on the Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar routes has been activated and cargo flights on these sectors will start operations very soon.”

Restoring high-value supply chains

Before 2020, Afghanistan’s exports to India—valued at US$400–450 million annually—were dominated by high-value perishables. UN COMTRADE and Afghan government data show that dried fruits, raisins, apricots, pomegranates, figs, pistachios, and almonds comprised the bulk of outbound cargo. The Afghan dried fruit and nut sector alone exceeded US$500 million in export value in 2023–24.

These commodities are naturally suited to air freight due to their perishability and the premium markets they serve in northern and western India. Direct uplift reduces multi-leg transit, minimises quality loss, and lowers spoilage risk—critical concerns for Afghan agricultural exporters.

For India, exports to Afghanistan traditionally include pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, textiles, packaged foods, tea, sugar, and other essentials, valued at US$300–350 million annually prior to the pandemic. Pharmaceuticals, India’s largest export to Afghanistan, rely on temperature-controlled logistics, strict handling protocols, and time-definite uplift, driving demand for air cargo.

As Minister Azizi emphasised: “This visit opens new opportunities for both countries to work together… The objective is to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and reactivate our historic relations in trade, investment and other areas.”

Integration with India’s cargo network

The reinstated routes connect Afghanistan directly to Delhi, India’s largest air cargo gateway, and Amritsar, a critical node for perishable handling and agri-exports.

Delhi handles over 1 million tonnes of freight annually, offering Afghan exporters wide-body connectivity to the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Amritsar provides reduced congestion and faster turnaround times—operational advantages for perishable cargo and exporters reliant on rapid cold-chain transfers. Both airports have expanded CEIV-aligned and GDP-compliant infrastructure, strengthening their capacity to handle pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive goods.

A delegation focused on commerce

The Afghan delegation’s agenda extended beyond government meetings, engaging with key industry bodies including APEDA, TEXPROCIL, AEPC, MATEXIL, PHARMEXCL, PHDCCI, and ASSOCHAM. These discussions indicate a deliberate effort to restore long-term supply arrangements for agricultural products, textiles, medicines, and food commodities.

India and Afghanistan also announced the reactivation of the Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment and plans to station Commercial Representatives in each other’s embassies. A Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry will facilitate trade and private-sector engagement.

This institutional framework is critical for the air cargo industry. Predictable regulatory interaction and business-to-business engagement reduce transactional friction and improve cargo planning, particularly for perishable exporters dependent on seasonal uplift.

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar noted: “Discussed ways to strengthen our trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties. Reiterated India’s support for the development and welfare of the people of Afghanistan.”

Operational dynamics: Load factors and cargo composition

The corridor’s cargo economics reflect a natural asymmetry: heavy perishables flow into India, while lighter, high-value exports such as pharmaceuticals and medical supplies move outbound. This pattern often improves fleet efficiency.

Indian carriers and integrators can achieve strong inbound load factors while maintaining yield-rich outbound consignments. Seasonal peaks for perishables—particularly pomegranates, apples, and saffron—may justify charter operations, depending on airline capacity decisions. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce reports that fruit and nut exports reached nearly 300,000 tonnes in a recent reporting period, underscoring potential cargo demand.

Regional implications

India’s corridor reactivation comes at a time when air cargo is increasingly the backbone of regional trade. As international belly-hold capacity normalises post-pandemic and freighter networks in South Asia and the Gulf expand, the India–Afghanistan link strengthens the broader Middle East–Central Asia logistics chain.

The corridor also carries humanitarian and development significance. India has regularly supplied essential medicines, food aid, and relief materials to Afghanistan. A predictable air route ensures faster delivery and reduces dependence on ad-hoc arrangements.

A pragmatic step forward

The reopening of the Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar corridors is a practical decision grounded in economic logic and supply-chain necessity. It re-anchors a trade route that relies on air transport and restores a channel suited to the demands of Afghan perishables and Indian pharmaceuticals.

For carriers, forwarders, and ground handlers, the corridor offers renewed commercial opportunities. For policymakers, it represents a calibrated approach to maintaining economic engagement while prioritising trade stability and operational continuity. Most importantly, it provides exporters and importers with a reliable logistics artery, allowing long-standing commercial ties to rebuild.