India has extended a special exemption for Afghan agricultural imports for yet another year, the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi said, in a gesture to support Afghan merchants by allowing imports without fumigation.

Significantly, in the last two decades, India has helped Afghanistan by increasing its trade and opening an air corridor for trade. Although India closed its embassy in Kabul and consulates after last year's regime change, New Delhi has been extending limited cooperation with the Taliban regime in the interest of the Afghan people. 

The extension of exemption will help Afghan traders. Earlier, New Delhi also provided 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the country in the grip of a humanitarian crisis.

“It is a good achievement for Afghan exporters. The decision will enhance the country’s exports to India by 50 percent,” Omid Haidari, an Afghan merchant, was quoted as saying by TOLOnews.

Afghan’s exports to India suffered after the change of regime in the country because of the disruption in the air corridor.

“We have had no flights to India for nine months. India is a good market for Afghanistan,” Khan Jan Alokozai, a member of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), was quoted as saying by TOLOnews.

India has been a major export destination for Afghan dry fruits. However, in the absence of a transit permit from Pakistan, exports had gone down in the last few months.

(SAM)