Afghan president inaugurates first air corridor with India, bypassing Pakistan

Ashraf Ghani says aim of the route is to create more opportunities and make Afghanistan an exporter country.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani inaugurated the first Afghanistan-India air corridor during a ceremony at the Kabul International Airport — a direct route that bypasses Pakistan and is meant to improve commerce.

President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani (L) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kazakhstan. (PTI File)

Ghani said the aim of the route was to create more opportunities and make Afghanistan an exporter country.

His adviser Sediqullah Mujadedi said Afghan agricultural products will for the first time head to India on cargo planes.

Mujadedi said the first India-bound flight on Monday included 60 tons of natural plants; a second flight will follow, with 40 tons of dry fruits to be sent form Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province.

Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country and all imports and exports depend on neighbouring countries. Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have become strained over accusations of harbouring militants.