Afghanistan crisis: Taliban stop exports, imports from India
Dr Ajay Sahai, Director General (DG) of the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), said currently, the Taliban had stopped the movement of cargo through the transit routes of Pakistan, thereby stopping imports from the country. "We keep a close watch on developments in Afghanistan. Imports from there come through the transit route of Pakistan. As of now, the Taliban have stopped the movement of cargo to Pakistan, so virtually imports have stopped," said FIEO DG.
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India has long-standing relations with Afghanistan, especially in trade. India has a large investment in Afghanistan. "In fact, we are one of the largest partners of Afghanistan and our exports to Afghanistan are worth $USD 835 million for 2021. We imported goods worth around $510 Million. But besides the trade, we have 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," Sahai said. "...Some of the goods are exported from international north-south transport corridor route which is fine now. Some of the goods go through Dubai route also which is working," he added.
Sahai said India had healthy relations with Afghanistan in trade. Currently, Indian export profile included sugar, pharmaceuticals, apparel, tea, coffee, spices and transmission towers. "Imports are related and largely dependent on dry fruits. We also import a little gum and onions from them," FIEO DG said.
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Despite the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan, the FIEO DG was hopeful and optimistic about trade relations with Afghanistan. "I am pretty sure over a period of time, Afghanistan will also realise that economic development is the only way to move forward and they will continue with that kind of trade. I think the new regime will like to have political legitimacy and for that India's role will become important for them also," DG FIEO added.
-PTC with inputs from ANI
