In a new development that was anticipated, the Taliban has reportedly issued orders that all imports and exports with India will be stopped after it took control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.After the ouster of the Taliban in 2001, India developed long-standing relations with the new Afghanistan government and in order to improve the economy, particular impetus was given to trade which now has suffered an impact after the Taliban took control.
Dr Ajay Sahai, Director General (DG) of Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) told ANI that the Taliban “has stopped the movement of cargo through the transit routes of Pakistan, thereby stopping imports from the country.”
India exported “sugar, pharmaceuticals, apparel, tea, coffee, spices and transmission towers”, and imported dry fruits. Gum and onions amongst other things that greatly improved the Afghan economy.
“We keep a close watch on developments in Afghanistan. Imports from there come through the transit route of Pakistan. As of now, the Taliban has stopped the movement of cargo to Pakistan, so virtually imports have stopped,” he has been quoted as saying.
Dr Sahai further added that India is one of the largest partners of Afghanistan and the exports to Afghanistan “are worth around USD 835 million for 2021. We imported goods worth around USD 510 Million.”
He added that in addition to trade, India has “a sizeable investment in Afghanistan. We have invested around $3 billion in Afghanistan and there are 400-odd projects in Afghanistan some of which are currently going on.”
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