New Delhi, 12 July (H.S.): During the six-day visit of Afghanistan's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, to India from July 7 to 12, both sides held extensive discussions on food security, seed systems and enhancing crop productivity. India also assured support for Afghanistan's agricultural sector through climate-resilient and biofortified crop varieties, sustainable irrigation practices, water harvesting, watershed development and technical cooperation.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, during the visit, the Afghan minister met Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The two leaders reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation and explored new avenues in agricultural research, education, capacity building and agricultural trade. The discussions focused on strengthening seed systems, improving crop productivity and providing farmers with sustainable agricultural technologies.
Omari also met Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan. The meeting focused on value addition in the food processing sector, development of modern infrastructure, technology transfer and promoting bilateral trade. Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for joint projects and investments in the sector.
The Afghan minister also held talks with Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on India's role in supporting the welfare and development of the Afghan people. India reaffirmed its commitment to continuing assistance to Afghanistan in the fields of education, healthcare and skill development.
The Afghan delegation also interacted with representatives of leading institutions and organisations, including NABARD, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), CIMMYT, ICRISAT, CIP, IFDC, FICCI and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The discussions covered agricultural research, development of improved crop varieties, climate-resilient technologies, food security and expanding agricultural trade cooperation.
Notably, this was the fourth ministerial-level visit from Afghanistan to India since October 2025. Earlier, Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India in October 2025, during which he met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The discussions focused on development assistance, trade, healthcare cooperation and regional stability.
Subsequently, Afghanistan's Minister of Commerce and Industry Nooruddin Azizi visited India in November 2025. His visit centred on trade facilitation, market access, and maritime and air connectivity. During that visit, the launch of the Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar air cargo corridors was also announced. Later in 2025, Afghanistan's minister responsible for the energy sector also visited India, where both sides discussed cooperation in power projects, energy supply and capacity building.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
