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KABUL – Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has called on India to use its diplomatic influence to persuade the United States to lift restrictions on Iran’s Chabahar Port — a critical trade route linking South Asia with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Speaking at an interaction organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Muttaqi emphasized that Afghanistan wants the “optimum utilisation” of Chabahar to advance regional trade and connectivity. “Both countries — India and the US — should make efforts to lift restrictions,” he urged, noting that the port’s full potential remains underutilized due to US sanctions on Iran.
The Chabahar Port, jointly developed by India and Iran, has long been viewed as a strategic alternative to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port and a crucial access point for Indian goods to reach Afghanistan and beyond. However, renewed US sanctions on Iran have complicated operations and limited India’s engagement.
Muttaqi also underscored the importance of facilitating travel and business exchange between Afghanistan and India. He appealed to Indian authorities to simplify visa procedures for Afghan citizens, saying, “You issue visas, make the visa processes easier. Flights come and go, passports are there — what is missing are the visas. Give visas.”
Highlighting efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney, who attended the meeting, announced the launch of direct passenger flights between Amritsar and Kabul, along with plans to increase cargo traffic between Amritsar and Kandahar, and between Delhi and Kabul.
The Afghan minister’s visit reflects Kabul’s push to reintegrate into regional trade networks despite geopolitical constraints, with Chabahar seen as a linchpin for sustainable economic recovery and broader South Asian connectivity.
