A senior economic official of the Islamic Emirate announced that Iran has now become Afghanistan's most important transit route, and trade between the two countries has reached $1.6 billion in the past six months; a figure that has exceeded Afghanistan's trade volume with Pakistan.
Publish dateSunday 16 November 2025 - 11:33
Story Code : 336533
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): According to Reuters, landlocked Afghanistan is trying to reduce its long-standing dependence on Pakistani trade routes. Rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad and the partial closure of borders have led the country to substitute routes through Iran and Central Asia.
Reuters wrote: Afghanistan's traditional reliance on Pakistani ports has always provided Islamabad with a tool to pressure Kabul on the issue of Pakistani militants taking refuge. But now, to avoid frequent border and transit disruptions, Kabul is using Iranian routes, especially the Chabahar port, which was developed with Indian support, more than before.
Significant growth in trade with Iran
Abdulsalam Javad Akhundzadeh, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told Reuters: “In the past six months, our trade with Iran has reached $1.6 billion, which is more than the $1.1 billion exchange with Pakistan.”
He added that one of Iran’s most important advantages is the facilities of Chabahar Port, which have reduced delays and given traders the assurance that their goods will not be stopped when the border is closed in Pakistan.
Referring to Iran’s new facilities, Akhundzadeh said: “Iran has installed modern equipment and X-ray machines and is offering a 30 percent discount on port tariffs, a 75 percent discount on warehousing and a 55 percent discount on berthing costs for Afghan goods.”
Islamic Emirate orders to replace Pakistani route
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, also announced in a speech that traders have three months to settle their trade contracts with Pakistan and replace other routes.
Accusing Islamabad of using trade and humanitarian issues as political leverage, he said that Afghan ministries have been ordered to stop the clearance of medicines imported from Pakistan due to low quality.
Chabahar; the axis of new changes
The biggest change is the strengthening of the role of Chabahar port, which has been active since 2017 under a trilateral agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan. Our country's officials say that reducing tariffs, discounting warehousing and speeding up processing in Chabahar have led to a significant increase in the transfer of cargo to this port.
New Delhi has also expanded its interactions with the Islamic Emirate in recent months and has hosted Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaki. India operates key terminals at Chabahar, and the United States recently granted New Delhi a six-month waiver from sanctions to keep the port operational.
Increasing trade through Central Asia
Afghanistan has also increased its trade through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, routes that government officials say are growing faster than those through Pakistan.
Akhundzada cited new transit agreements, reduced border fees and the opening of trade offices in Milk and Zahedan, Iran’s two main crossings, as new benefits.
Pakistan’s response: We will not suffer
In contrast, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Afghanistan’s decision would not harm Pakistan economically. He added: “Afghanistan can trade through any port or country.”
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jamal Kamal Khan also told Reuters: “We cannot compromise on security or turn a blind eye.”
Pakistan remains the fastest route, but not the safest
Although Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s fastest sea route, with trucks reaching Karachi port in three days, the route has been plagued by frequent border closures and political tensions. Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan are expected to reach around $1.5 billion by 2024.
Islamabad sees the border closures as a necessary measure to counter militant movements, while the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly denied accusations of harboring Pakistani militants.
Reuters wrote: Afghanistan's traditional reliance on Pakistani ports has always provided Islamabad with a tool to pressure Kabul on the issue of Pakistani militants taking refuge. But now, to avoid frequent border and transit disruptions, Kabul is using Iranian routes, especially the Chabahar port, which was developed with Indian support, more than before.
Significant growth in trade with Iran
Abdulsalam Javad Akhundzadeh, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told Reuters: “In the past six months, our trade with Iran has reached $1.6 billion, which is more than the $1.1 billion exchange with Pakistan.”
He added that one of Iran’s most important advantages is the facilities of Chabahar Port, which have reduced delays and given traders the assurance that their goods will not be stopped when the border is closed in Pakistan.
Referring to Iran’s new facilities, Akhundzadeh said: “Iran has installed modern equipment and X-ray machines and is offering a 30 percent discount on port tariffs, a 75 percent discount on warehousing and a 55 percent discount on berthing costs for Afghan goods.”
Islamic Emirate orders to replace Pakistani route
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, also announced in a speech that traders have three months to settle their trade contracts with Pakistan and replace other routes.
Accusing Islamabad of using trade and humanitarian issues as political leverage, he said that Afghan ministries have been ordered to stop the clearance of medicines imported from Pakistan due to low quality.
Chabahar; the axis of new changes
The biggest change is the strengthening of the role of Chabahar port, which has been active since 2017 under a trilateral agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan. Our country's officials say that reducing tariffs, discounting warehousing and speeding up processing in Chabahar have led to a significant increase in the transfer of cargo to this port.
New Delhi has also expanded its interactions with the Islamic Emirate in recent months and has hosted Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaki. India operates key terminals at Chabahar, and the United States recently granted New Delhi a six-month waiver from sanctions to keep the port operational.
Increasing trade through Central Asia
Afghanistan has also increased its trade through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, routes that government officials say are growing faster than those through Pakistan.
Akhundzada cited new transit agreements, reduced border fees and the opening of trade offices in Milk and Zahedan, Iran’s two main crossings, as new benefits.
Pakistan’s response: We will not suffer
In contrast, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Afghanistan’s decision would not harm Pakistan economically. He added: “Afghanistan can trade through any port or country.”
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jamal Kamal Khan also told Reuters: “We cannot compromise on security or turn a blind eye.”
Pakistan remains the fastest route, but not the safest
Although Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s fastest sea route, with trucks reaching Karachi port in three days, the route has been plagued by frequent border closures and political tensions. Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan are expected to reach around $1.5 billion by 2024.
Islamabad sees the border closures as a necessary measure to counter militant movements, while the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly denied accusations of harboring Pakistani militants.
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