Afghan-India Air Freight Corridor to Inaugurate Tomorrow

The first flight under the dedicated Afghan-India air freight corridor will become operational tomorrow, thereby, making trade easier between the two countries. India media reported that the development is significant as Pakistan does not allow use of its land for trade between Afghanistan and India. “The first flight (under the dedicated India-Afghan air freight corridor) is likely to operate tomorrow and will carry Indian goods to Afghanistan and their products to India,” Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said. The concept was discussed between the two countries during the visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last year. The cargo service will aim to improve landlocked Afghanistan’s connectivity to key markets abroad and boost the growth prospects of its dry fruits and carpet industries. For the finalisation of the India- Afghanistan air corridor project, the MoU was signed in May between the CEOs of Ariana Airlines and Afghanistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) in presence of Ajmal Ahmady, senior economic adviser to Ghani and representatives from ACCI and business communities.