Pakistan blocking Indian cargo to Afghanistan

In what appears to be a violation of civil aviation norms, Pakistan is reportedly stopping Indian flights to Afghanistan. Recently, Pakistan's civil aviation authority denied passage thrice in the last week of December to SpiceJet cargo flights to Afghanistan and then again on January 11 and 14.

India raised the matter with Islamabad with Ministry of External Affairs sending a note verbale to Pakistan.

The development comes even as New Delhi has been trying to connect landlocked Afghanistan with India and rest of the world.

Pakistan has been blocking the land route for trade between Afghanistan and India.

The India Afghanistan air corridor, launched in 2017, connects Afghanistan with Delhi and Mumbai. The Chabahar port being built in Iran with India's help also provides Afghanistan goods gateway to the world.

Speaking at the first India Central Asia Afghanistan Dialogue in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on January 13, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Joint efforts of India, Iran and Afghanistan have led to the development of the Chabahar Port in Iran as a viable and operational trade route to connect to Afghanistan and potentially to Central Asia. Chabahar provides a shining example of what strong partnership can achieve to overcome any obstacles."