Attack on Chabahar Port Threatens Vital Afghan Trade Route
Recent attacks by the United States on Iran’s Chabahar Port, a critical trade route for Afghanistan, have raised concerns over continued access for merchants to regional markets. Indian media outlets have reported that the port’s maritime traffic control tower was targeted early Thursday, an event that could disrupt ship movements and cargo transfers.
Since 2016, Chabahar has been developed with Indian investment as a strategic corridor for India to access Afghanistan and Central Asia without passing through Pakistani territory. Media outlets such as The Times of India and Navbharat Times have described these attacks as a serious blow to India’s trade plans, noting that one of the most important access routes to Afghanistan is now facing challenges.
Abdulhadi Farhang, former commercial attaché of Afghanistan in Iran, stated that although Afghanistan’s trade volume through Chabahar is limited, damage to the port’s infrastructure—especially at Bandar Abbas—could have broader repercussions. He explained that the Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari docks, along with the ship traffic control tower in Chabahar, were targeted. However, the primary concern for Afghanistan lies with Bandar Abbas, through which the majority of its exports and imports occur.
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment has also confirmed that Bandar Abbas plays a much larger role in the country’s foreign trade than Chabahar, and any disruptions on this route could affect the domestic market.
According to a World Bank report, Afghanistan’s exports in May this year amounted to $79.2 million, with 34% destined for India, making India Afghanistan’s largest export market. Under these circumstances, any disruption in transit routes could place additional strain on the country’s trade balance.
The Taliban administration had previously emphasized the use of alternative routes instead of those through Pakistan. On November 12, 2025, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the economic deputy prime minister of the administration, urged traders to adopt alternative pathways for exports and imports as soon as possible. However, the damage to port infrastructure in Iran indicates that establishing and maintaining sustainable transit routes requires more comprehensive planning and practical guarantees.
These developments come as the Wagah and Karachi crossings in Pakistan have remained closed for nearly nine months to a large portion of Afghanistan’s trade and transit activities, further limiting Afghan traders’ options for accessing regional markets.
