Taliban Minister: Trade with Iran to Increase via Chabahar-Milk Corridor
Nuruddin Azizi, the Taliban’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, announced during an economic visit to Iran that the transit route from the port of Chabahar to the Milak border crossing is a secure and unrestricted pathway for Afghanistan’s imports and exports.
Speaking at a joint Iran-Afghanistan economic summit in the town of Hirmand, Azizi emphasized the importance of expanding infrastructure along the Chabahar-Milak route. He said ongoing efforts aim to make this corridor a competitive alternative to other regional ports like Karachi, with the goal of reducing costs and facilitating trade between the two countries. He added that projects such as building a railway and highway linking Chabahar and Milak, training Afghan drivers, and boosting economic efficiency are currently on the agenda.
According to Azizi, this route directly affects thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on transportation. He said its development could significantly enhance regional freight and transit capacities.
Azizi outlined the Taliban administration’s economic policy as one that supports both domestic and foreign investment. He noted that developing free trade zones like Chabahar forms part of broader economic plans aimed at job growth and attracting capital. While the Taliban claims to be easing trade within legal frameworks, economic analysts have criticized the group’s lack of effective support for local investors and its failure to reduce bureaucratic obstacles.
The Taliban minister also stressed that Afghanistan’s relations with neighboring and Islamic countries are founded on mutual respect and dialogue, pointing to recent cooperation with Iran as an example. He reaffirmed continued engagement with Tehran on issues such as migration, trade, and the management of natural resources.
In his remarks, Azizi touched on Afghanistan’s drought crisis, stating that even in Kabul water wells have receded by over 150 meters. He described cooperation with Iran on water resource management as a “friendly commitment,” though it remains unclear how successful the Taliban has been in protecting Afghanistan’s water rights and implementing transparent regional mechanisms.
Referring to coordination among ministries and security agencies in monitoring water resources, Azizi said all actions related to water are carried out in coordination with Iran to ensure joint resources are maintained. However, Afghanistan’s history of managing border waterways—such as the Helmand River—has been fraught with disputes.
Azizi also announced plans to construct border facilities including standard cold storage units and to open commercial offices in both Chabahar and Milak. If implemented, these initiatives could improve the region’s transit capacity. He pledged implementation of economic agreements between the two sides, though no clear reports have yet been published on the enforcement of these commitments.
Azizi’s visit comes as he led a Taliban economic delegation through the Milak crossing—one of Afghanistan’s few access points to open waters. In the face of international isolation, expanding economic ties with Iran is seen as one of the few ways the Taliban can sustain its economic survival.
