A new flight service connecting Mazar-e-Sharif, a strategically-important Afghan city, with Delhi was today launched, reflecting resolve of the two countries to boost connectivity despite Pakistan posing hurdles.
Officials in the Ministry of External Affairs said flight services linking Herat, another key city of Afghanistan, with Delhi will be launched this week.
Mazar-e Sharif, located in North Afghanistan, is the second largest Afghan city while Herat in the Western region is the third largest city in the war-ravaged country.
Currently, Air India and SpiceJet operate direct flights from India to Kabul.
Reflecting growing congruence in their ties, India and Afghanistan had launched a dedicated air freight corridor service in June. The freight corridor was launched as Pakistan has been creating hurdles for transport of goods between India and Afghanistan through it.
Kam Air - a privately owned airline by the Kamgar Group, will operate two flights a week from Mazar-e-Sharif on Mondays and Wednesdays and from Herat on Fridays and Tuesdays, the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif said in a release.
Today's flight was inaugurated by Mohammad Afzal Hadeed, chairman of the Provincial Council of Balkh Province, and Manjish Grover, Consul General of India in Mazar-e Sharif.
Speaking on the occasion, Grover said that there has been a demand for a direct flight to Delhi from Mazar from visa seekers for long and Afghan people in the Northern provinces who travel to India for medical treatment will benefit from it.
He said the flight services will lead to easier trade and commerce from North Afghanistan with India.
Hadeed termed it a landmark day for Mazar-e Sharif saying direct flights will ease travel and trade with India for people in the Northern Provinces and bring the two nations even closer.
He said even without any prior promotion, today's flight was full, indicating a "good demand".
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