Traders In Kandahar Seek New Routes To Bring Afghan Dry Fruits To India

NEW DELHI-A group of Indian traders who have travelled to Kandahar to buy dried fruit are looking to send their purchases to New Delhi through alternative Asian routes as the closure of land routes and rising air freight costs disrupt Afghanistan’s trade, Afghan media reported.

The traders’ move comes as Kandahar’s growers struggle to access overseas markets. The province’s well-known golden raisins, which were previously exported to India, are among the products affected by the closure of traditional trade routes, Tolo News reported.

The “golden” variety, locally known as Abjosh raisins, is made from a grape called Aita. Farmers dip the grapes in a special solution before spreading them out on prepared grounds for seven days to produce the golden raisins.

Much of Kandahar’s fresh and dried fruit is exported to neighboring, Arab and European countries. But rising air freight costs have added to concerns among dried-fruit traders seeking to keep their exports moving.

An Indian trader identified as Anand said, “We have been here for three or four days buying dried fruit, and then we send it to New Delhi through other Asian countries. This is our trade with Afghanistan.”

With the Pakistan border closed and trade routes disrupted, Afghan traders have increasingly turned to alternative routes, including Iran’s Chabahar Port, rail corridors through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and air freight links to India. These routes have helped keep trade moving but come with higher costs and geopolitical risks.

India remains one of Afghanistan’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching $907.85 million in 2025-26 despite disruptions along the Pakistan route. India mainly imports dry fruits, saffron and spices from Afghanistan, while exporting pharmaceuticals, machinery and food products.

The closure of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in October 2025, following a fierce skirmish, further disrupted transit trade. Customs figures cited in reports showed that container traffic through Pakistan fell to 11,592 containers worth $367 million in 2025-26, from 42,959 containers worth $1.36 billion in 2024-25.

Afghanistan’s exports via Pakistan to India and other countries also fell sharply, from $454 million in 2024-25 to $7 million in 2025-26, according to the reports. (IANS)