A MONTH after Taliban-led Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India, a high-level delegation led by Taliban’s Industry and Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi is visiting India for five days, during which he is expected to meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and discuss deepening of trade ties between India and Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, Azizi visited the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025. Neeraj Kharwal, Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), received Azizi at the venue and briefed him on ongoing fair, available facilities, and opportunities for Afghanistan to participate in future exhibitions.
Azizi also toured various stalls at the fair, including the Afghan stalls showcasing local products to promote business connections. Following the tour, the Taliban minister interacted with Afghan traders in India to discuss market access and expansion prospects.
This visit is the first by an Afghan minister to ITPO since 2021, set against escalating Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions, including border closures disrupting exports. This has prompted Afghanistan to diversify trade with India.
Key Indian exports to Afghanistan include pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery, food items like sugar, tea, and rice, while imports feature agricultural products and minerals.
Recent diplomatic steps have included upgrading India’s Kabul mission to full embassy status in October 2025. Afghanistan is seeking Indian investments in its mining sector and hydroelectric projects, and exploring avenues to bypass Pakistan for enhanced connectivity.
On October 10, as a first step towards normalising diplomatic ties with the Taliban since the group seized power in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the US-led forces in 2021, India said it would upgrade its “technical mission” in Kabul to the status of an embassy. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the announcement during his first meeting with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Muttaqi—the first visit by a Taliban foreign minister.
