Afghan President inaugurates first Afghanistan-India air corridor

Taking ahead the bilateral relations between India and Afghanistan, the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on 19 June 2017 inaugurated the first Afghanistan-India air corridor. The corridor inaugurated at the Kabul International Airport is a direct route that will bypass Pakistan.

The corridor is meant to improve commerce in Afghanistan.

On the occasion, Ghani said that the aim of the route is to create more opportunities and make Afghanistan an exporter country. Afghan President's adviser Sediqullah Mujadedi said Afghan agricultural products will for the first time head to India on cargo planes.

In addition, Mujadedi also said that the first India-bound flight on 19 June included 60 tonnes of natural plants. The second flight will follow, with 40 tonnes of dry fruits, which will be sent form Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province.

Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country and all imports and exports depend on neighbouring countries. Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have become strained over accusations of harbouring militants.

Meanwhile, first air freight corridor flight arrived in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and others were present at the arrival of the flight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked Afghan President for the initiative. In a tweet, he said, the direct connectivity between India and Afghanistan will usher prosperity.