Afghan Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Tuesday that commercial air cargo routes between India and Afghanistan will start within two months.

Acting director for the commercial department of the ministry, Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, said that the launch of these routes will reduce problems, particularly regarding the export of fresh produce.

The ministry said that draft plans for the Kabul-Delhi route and the Kandahar-Amritsar route have been prepared and hopefully the routes will open within two months.  

“In case our ground routes close for any reason we will have air corridors. A specific cargo plane will be provided for businessmen and air and ground taxes will be the same,” said Haqjo.

This comes ahead of Afghanistan’s peak export season of fresh fruit and vegetables, which often runs the risk of losses for exporters especially when commercial crossings into Pakistan are closed.  

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) meanwhile said commercial problems have not been solved with Pakistan and there are fears that Pakistan will again close commercial routes to Afghan traders.  

“Unfortunately the problems are not yet solved with Pakistan and within two months our export season starts and if our relations remain the same with Pakistan, government will have to take action and find alternative routes,” said Sayam Pesarlay, spokesman for the ACCI.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) said that at the moment there are good markets for Afghanistan’s agriculture products inside the country.

“At the moment, the ministry of defense is buying local apples, instead of buying (imported) bananas and tangerines, and Afghanistan’s seasonal fruits will be included from now on in the defense ministry’s list of purchases,” said the minister, Assadullah Zamir.