Iran steps up economic, connectivity push with Afghanistan

New Delhi: Iran is stepping up its economic partnership with Kabul and connectivity links as ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan deteriorate and Pakistan activates the Mecca Pact.

Iran’s energy minister Abbas Aliabadi is in Kabul to meet Afghan officials and discuss cooperation in the water and energy sectors. He is also scheduled to visit the fifth Abu Hanifa Afghanistan International Exhibition and discuss expanding technical and engineering cooperation with Kabul, according to people familiar with Iran-Afghanistan dynamics.

The visit comes as Pakistan activates the Mecca Pact and deploys troops and assets to fight Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. Earlier on Monday, Kabul and Islamabad sparred at a Moscow Format meeting in the Russian capital.


Iran is also interested in connecting its network with the Herat-Mazar-i-Sharif railway line in Afghanistan.

Mazar-i-Sharif is already linked to Uzbekistan through the Hairatan railway line. Connecting Herat to Mazar-i-Sharif could therefore link the Khaf-Herat railway with northern Afghanistan’s railway network and, eventually, Central Asia on one hand and Chabahar Port via Iran’s railway network on the other. Iran has connected Zahedan with Chabahar Port.

Afghan media have reported the arrival of a 180-member trade delegation from Iran’s private sector to participate in the Abu Hanifa Afghanistan International Exhibition and discuss expanding trade and investment between the two countries. The delegation is headed by Mahmoud Siadat, head of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce. The delegation will meet Afghan economic actors to examine ways to expand trade and opportunities for joint investment between the two countries, according to Iran’s news agency IRNA.

Besides Iran, traders, investors and companies from more than 20 countries, including Russia, India, Turkey, Japan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, are participating in the exhibition.