Reuters: Afghanistan shifts cargo flow to Iranian and Central Asian routes

Landlocked Afghanistan is increasingly using trade routes through Iran and Central Asia to diversify its access to seaports, officials said, following recent disruptions at its border with Pakistan.

Afghanistan has long relied on Pakistani ports for trade, but it is now making greater use of Iran’s Chabahar port, operated with Indian support, which provides an alternative route for freight. Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzada, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s commerce ministry, told Reuters that trade with Iran has reached $1.6 billion over the past six months, compared with $1.1 billion exchanged with Pakistan. “The facilities at Chabahar have reduced delays and given traders confidence that shipments will not stop when borders close,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar noted that Afghan traders have three months to complete contracts through Pakistan before transitioning to other routes. He added that the government is coordinating ministries to regulate imports, including medicines, to ensure quality standards.

The Chabahar port has been in use since 2017 under a transit agreement with Iran and India. Afghan officials said tariff incentives, discounted storage, and faster handling times are attracting more cargo to the port. Iran has installed updated equipment and X-ray scanners and offers Afghan shipments a 30% reduction in port tariffs, 75% off storage fees, and 55% off docking charges, according to Akhundzada.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif of Pakistan noted that Afghanistan can trade through any port or country without causing economic harm. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan emphasised security considerations.

India has expanded its engagement with Afghanistan, hosting the acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and increasing humanitarian support. India manages key terminals at Chabahar, which it considers a strategic link to Afghanistan and Central Asia. In October, the United States granted India a six-month sanctions waiver to maintain operations at the port.

Afghanistan has also increased shipments through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, with officials saying these routes are growing rapidly. Advantages include new transit agreements, lower border costs, and improved facilities at Milak and Zahedan, Iran’s main crossings for Afghan trade.

Nevertheless, Pakistan remains the fastest route to the sea, with trucks reaching the southern port of Karachi in three days. Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan approached $1.5 billion in 2024. Authorities on both sides have cited security concerns related to cross-border movement, with Kabul denying that it provides safe haven to militants.

By Tamilla Hasanova