New Delhi, July 2 -- India's exports to Afghanistan are increasingly going through Dubai as Pakistan's closure of the Wagah-Attari transit route has forced exporters to find new ways to operate. This situation distorts the official trade data between the two countries and obscures the true extent of commercial ties, according to persons familiar with the matter.

Commerce ministry data show India's exports to Afghanistan dropped 45.8% to Rs.2,239.11 crore in fiscal 2026, down from Rs.4,129.04 crore in fiscal 2022. At the same time, imports rose 53.4% to Rs.5,837.49 crore. This change has turned a trade surplus of Rs.323.03 crore into a deficit of Rs.3,598.38 crore, while total bilateral trade has remained around Rs.8,000 crore.

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