In a significant move to deepen economic ties, Afghanistan's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi, held pivotal discussions with the Spices Board of India during his five-day visit to New Delhi. The high-level talks, which took place from November 19-23, 2025, focused on expanding cooperation in the spice sector, increasing exports, and exploring joint investment opportunities, signaling a fresh chapter in bilateral relations.
Strengthening Spice and Pharmaceutical Collaboration
The Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in a detailed statement on X, revealed that the Indian side expressed a strong interest in a broader collaboration. This includes the ambitious plan of setting up spice production factories in Afghanistan. The discussions were comprehensive, covering not only spice-related matters but also critical issues such as medicine imports, improving spice quality, and addressing challenges that have hampered the bilateral medicine trade.
Minister Azizi provided assurances to the Indian delegation, confirming that Afghanistan is ready to extend full support to reputable pharmaceutical companies looking to establish operations within the country. This opens a new avenue for Indian pharma giants to explore the Afghan market.
A Two-Way Street: Delegation Exchanges and Concrete Plans
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement on a reciprocal exchange of sectoral delegations. As part of this initiative, Afghan spice sector officials will travel to India to tour advanced and reputable spice factories. This will provide them with firsthand knowledge of modern production techniques.
In return, a delegation from India's spice sector will make its way to Kabul. Their primary objective will be to assess the practical possibilities for establishing pharmaceutical production units in Afghanistan and to strategize on expanding exports. The Afghan ministry highlighted the scale of the Indian council, noting it comprises approximately 57 standardised, world-class quality factories as its members.
Broadening the Scope of Bilateral Engagement
The meeting with the Spices Board was one of several high-level engagements during Minister Azizi's visit. Earlier, he met with India's Union Minister of State for Commerce, Jitin Prasada. Following their meeting, Prasada noted on X that the discussions reflected a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Azizi also held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The leaders discussed concrete ways to boost trade, improve connectivity between the two nations, and enhance people-to-people ties. Jaishankar reiterated India's continued support for the development and welfare of the people of Afghanistan.
This visit is notably one of the highest-level from the Taliban government to India since their takeover of Kabul in August 2021. It follows the visit of Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, to India in October 2025.
Further emphasizing the trade focus, Minister Azizi led a high-level delegation to the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025. There, he met with Neeraj Kharwal, Managing Director of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), to discuss opportunities for Afghanistan's participation in future exhibitions.
This push for stronger economic links with India comes as Afghanistan actively works to diversify its trade partnerships amid escalating tensions with Pakistan. Recent border clashes and subsequent closures have disrupted traditional export routes. In response, Afghanistan is increasing trade with Iran and Central Asian nations. The country is strategically using the Chabahar Port in Iran to bypass disruptions at Pakistan's borders and reduce political pressures from Islamabad, marking a significant shift in its regional trade logistics.
