Afghanistan is set to expand its access to international markets through Pakistan’s deep-water Gwadar Port, Pakistani officials said, marking what they described as a milestone in regional trade integration.
Pakistan’s maritime affairs minister, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, welcomed the arrival of a second Afghan commercial vessel at Gwadar this week, calling it a “significant step” in strengthening economic ties. The ship carried 20,000 tons of diammonium phosphate fertilizer.
“This is part of our consistent effort to transform Gwadar into a strategic commercial gateway for land-locked Afghanistan,” Chaudhry said in a statement. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating transit trade and deepening economic integration across the region.
Gwadar, part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, has increasingly positioned itself as a transit hub for Afghan-bound cargo and broader regional commerce. Analysts say Afghanistan’s engagement with Gwadar underscores Islamabad’s drive to boost regional connectivity and diversify trade routes.
