INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Trade between Afghanistan and India totals $650 million in the first 10 months of this year, the Islamic Emirate&s Ministry of Industry and
Commerce announced this weekend.In a post on X on Saturday, the ministry&s spokesman Abdulsalam Jawad Akhundzada said $477 million in
exports and $203 million in imports were recorded this year.He said Afghanistan&s main exports to India included dried figs, raisins,
saffron, green cumin, and almonds.According to Akhundzada, the main items imported from India over the past 10 months were sugar, raw
materials for industrial factories, new clothing, and roasted chickpeas.Just last week, JP Singh, Indian foreign ministry&s joint secretary
for the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division, visited Kabul and met with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.The two sides discussed
political and economic relations between Afghanistan and India, and people&s movements, the Afghan foreign ministry said in a
statement.Muttaqi expressed hope that relations between India and Afghanistan would expand in various fields
He stressed that to develop trade relations, Indian visa facilities should be increased for Afghan citizens, especially
businesspersons.According to the statement, JP Singh said that relations with Afghanistan are important for India and have an ancient
history.The Indian diplomat said that along with humanitarian aid to Afghans, India has also started development assistance to Afghanistan
and is engaged in technical discussions with relevant Afghan institutions.JP Singh stressed that in the near future, negotiations will be
held between technical delegations of regional countries including Afghanistan and India on the Chabahar port.He also promised to increase
Indian visa facilities for Afghans.The post Afghanistan-India trade volume totals $650 million so far this year first appeared on Ariana
