KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan exported more than $500 million worth of goods to India over the past year, despite Pakistan repeatedly closing key trade routes, a senior official with the country’s Chamber of Commerce said on Wednesday.
Khan Jan Alokozai, a board member of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said the closure of transit routes through Pakistan had prompted Afghan exporters to seek alternative trade corridors. He noted that the majority of exports to India consisted of dried fruits — traditionally one of Afghanistan’s leading agricultural exports.
“Despite the challenges, we managed to export over $500 million in goods to India in the past year,” Alokozai said.
Tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban have led to frequent border closures, disrupting the flow of goods and frustrating traders on both sides.
Alokozai added that Afghanistan’s overall exports for the 2024–2025 fiscal year remain largely unchanged from the previous year. “Last year, we had exports worth $1.78 billion, which is nearly the same as the year before,” he said.
In contrast, imports far exceeded exports. Alokozai reported that Afghanistan imported approximately $10 billion worth of goods in the 2023–2024 fiscal year, with total imports surpassing $11 billion over the past 12 months.
While the Chamber of Commerce continues to explore alternative trade routes, Alokozai said Afghan traders face mounting challenges. These include restrictions on money transfers, a shortage of cold storage infrastructure, and high taxes and tariffs imposed by Taliban authorities.
Traders have also called for clearer customs policies and improved regional cooperation to ease trade flows and reduce delays at border crossings.
