Copper in 2025: Navigating a tightrope between surging demand and constrained supply
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Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
150 trucks from Afghanistan offer a clue on why India is talking to the Taliban
Live Events You Might Also Like: Pakistan takes over chair of UNSC Taliban sanctions committee amid China-backed push in Afghanistan You Might Also Like: India holds talks with Talibans, discusses return of Indians You Might Also Like: Taliban's Chabahar bet signals shift from Islamabad to New Delhi (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The sole checkpoint between India and Pakistan opened again late last week — for one particular, highly symbolic convoy. More than 150 trucks from Afghanistan, carrying dried fruit and nuts, were allowed into Delhi had a point it wanted to make. The border was closed after the April 22 terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir, as anger against Pakistan's military rulers built in India, concluding in days-long clashes between the two countries last month. But India's leaders wanted to make it clear that this anger did not extend to the army's former allies, the trucks' cargo is a hint that this gesture had more than economic logic behind it. Afghanistan has great cultural resonance in India: One of our most memorable short stories is about a trader in nuts and raisins from Kabul who strikes up a friendship with a family in 19th-century those days, the British ruled both Kabul and Calcutta (as it then was), and trade and traders could move freely across the subcontinent. Since then, borders have been erected across the subcontinent, but Afghan populations have remained a big part of the lives of many Indian cities is particularly true of New Delhi, which became a haven for Afghans when the Taliban seized control of their country in the 1990s. Many from the Kabul and provincial elite were educated in India, and helped staff and support various elected governments in Afghanistan over the past two the Indian government closed its embassy in Kabul once the Taliban stormed back to power in 2021, and visas were no longer available. The connection to Delhi was cut just when it had become most week, however, came news that visas would once again be handed out to Afghan nationals. This reflects a broader policy shift in India: Relations with the Taliban administration are gradually being normalized. There has been a flurry of high-level discussion between India and Afghanistan over the past months. India's chief diplomat met the acting Afghan foreign minister in January, and the foreign minister spoke to his Taliban counterpart last up to the Taliban isn't easy for New Delhi. India was a big backer of the democratic Afghan state the militants overthrew. People here still resent the West for withdrawing its military support to Kabul in 2021, as well as for having looked away while the Pakistani military kept the Taliban alive for its decades in the wilderness. The Taliban conducted multiple attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul in that the reality of geography always prevails. Pakistan and Afghanistan will always have a testy relationship as long as their border is porous and undefined. The Pakistani army might have supported the Taliban when it was out of power, but once the militants became the Kabul establishment, bilateral ties soon settled into a familiar, antagonistic pattern. In December, 46 Afghans were killed when the Pakistani air force struck across its western border. Relations are particularly tense because Islamabad has already deported tens of thousands of Afghans, and has threatened to expel millions patrons in Beijing have tried to intervene, hosting officials from both sides at talks in China. Pushed by the Chinese, Islamabad last week finally appointed an ambassador in these efforts are unlikely to succeed, as long as the Pakistani state views Afghanistan as its own backyard. Military planners there long assumed that their smaller western neighbor would, willingly or otherwise, provide the Pakistani army with 'strategic depth' in a war. Obviously no Afghan government could ever agree to that. But the Pakistanis also tend to worry, during confrontations with India like the one last month, that whoever is in power in Kabul will permit a second front to open on their reintegration of the Taliban into regional politics — another of its old enemies, Iran, is reaching out as well — was inevitable once it settled into power. But the West should welcome closer relations between India and Afghanistan in particular. It might be the only thing keeping China from taking over the management of the was certainly associated in most Afghans' minds with their deposed state. Most here don't want to dilute India's identification with democracy by embracing the Taliban wholeheartedly. New Delhi's engagement with Afghanistan focused on people-to-people relations, and institution building, not security. This served to preserve and reinvigorate cultural ties dating back to the time when Afghan traders selling dried fruit and preserves were a familiar sight in Indian neighborhoods. Realpolitik matters, but people matter more.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
150 trucks from Afghanistan offer a clue on why India is talking to the Taliban
Live Events You Might Also Like: Pakistan takes over chair of UNSC Taliban sanctions committee amid China-backed push in Afghanistan You Might Also Like: India holds talks with Talibans, discusses return of Indians You Might Also Like: Taliban's Chabahar bet signals shift from Islamabad to New Delhi (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The sole checkpoint between India and Pakistan opened again late last week — for one particular, highly symbolic convoy. More than 150 trucks from Afghanistan, carrying dried fruit and nuts, were allowed into Delhi had a point it wanted to make. The border was closed after the April 22 terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir, as anger against Pakistan's military rulers built in India, concluding in days-long clashes between the two countries last month. But India's leaders wanted to make it clear that this anger did not extend to the army's former allies, the trucks' cargo is a hint that this gesture had more than economic logic behind it. Afghanistan has great cultural resonance in India: One of our most memorable short stories is about a trader in nuts and raisins from Kabul who strikes up a friendship with a family in 19th-century those days, the British ruled both Kabul and Calcutta (as it then was), and trade and traders could move freely across the subcontinent. Since then, borders have been erected across the subcontinent, but Afghan populations have remained a big part of the lives of many Indian cities is particularly true of New Delhi, which became a haven for Afghans when the Taliban seized control of their country in the 1990s. Many from the Kabul and provincial elite were educated in India, and helped staff and support various elected governments in Afghanistan over the past two the Indian government closed its embassy in Kabul once the Taliban stormed back to power in 2021, and visas were no longer available. The connection to Delhi was cut just when it had become most week, however, came news that visas would once again be handed out to Afghan nationals. This reflects a broader policy shift in India: Relations with the Taliban administration are gradually being normalized. There has been a flurry of high-level discussion between India and Afghanistan over the past months. India's chief diplomat met the acting Afghan foreign minister in January, and the foreign minister spoke to his Taliban counterpart last up to the Taliban isn't easy for New Delhi. India was a big backer of the democratic Afghan state the militants overthrew. People here still resent the West for withdrawing its military support to Kabul in 2021, as well as for having looked away while the Pakistani military kept the Taliban alive for its decades in the wilderness. The Taliban conducted multiple attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul in that the reality of geography always prevails. Pakistan and Afghanistan will always have a testy relationship as long as their border is porous and undefined. The Pakistani army might have supported the Taliban when it was out of power, but once the militants became the Kabul establishment, bilateral ties soon settled into a familiar, antagonistic pattern. In December, 46 Afghans were killed when the Pakistani air force struck across its western border. Relations are particularly tense because Islamabad has already deported tens of thousands of Afghans, and has threatened to expel millions patrons in Beijing have tried to intervene, hosting officials from both sides at talks in China. Pushed by the Chinese, Islamabad last week finally appointed an ambassador in these efforts are unlikely to succeed, as long as the Pakistani state views Afghanistan as its own backyard. Military planners there long assumed that their smaller western neighbor would, willingly or otherwise, provide the Pakistani army with 'strategic depth' in a war. Obviously no Afghan government could ever agree to that. But the Pakistanis also tend to worry, during confrontations with India like the one last month, that whoever is in power in Kabul will permit a second front to open on their reintegration of the Taliban into regional politics — another of its old enemies, Iran, is reaching out as well — was inevitable once it settled into power. But the West should welcome closer relations between India and Afghanistan in particular. It might be the only thing keeping China from taking over the management of the was certainly associated in most Afghans' minds with their deposed state. Most here don't want to dilute India's identification with democracy by embracing the Taliban wholeheartedly. New Delhi's engagement with Afghanistan focused on people-to-people relations, and institution building, not security. This served to preserve and reinvigorate cultural ties dating back to the time when Afghan traders selling dried fruit and preserves were a familiar sight in Indian neighborhoods. Realpolitik matters, but people matter more.
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Economic Times
Unlocking India's aviation potential: A path to economic growth and job creation
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of .) India is home to a growing, confident young population, and a vibrant startup ecosystem driving consumption and innovation at scale. There's an air about India. So, it's no surprise that Indian aviation , with millions of aspirational air passengers and more than 1,350 commercial aircraft in the order pipeline, has the world's to IATA, more than 4.4 bn passengers travelled by air in 2023, along with $8 tn worth of global trade - 33% of total by value. Nearly 60% of global tourists arrive by plane, making an economic contribution of $27.1 bn, and supporting 5 mn people in India. And each flight - of which there are more than 35 mn each year - requires dozens of crews, engineers, caterers, ground-handlers and other trained staff to make it International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) declared that investment in air connectivity has a multiplier effect of 3.1 to GDP, and each aviation job creates 6.1 others. According to Air Transport Action Group's (ATAG) '2024 Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders', the sector supports 86.5 mn global jobs and contributes $4.1 tn, 3.9% of the global economy. In India, according to IATA, overall contribution of aviation is 7.7 mn jobs and $53.6 bn to 2022 privatisation of Air India, along with IndiGo, the emergence of two sizeable, well-capitalised and professionally-run local airlines set the direction for Indian aviation. Their combined aircraft order book, valued at well over $150 bn, leaves no doubt as to ambition and commitment. As does massive investment, both public and private, in India's aviation infrastructure, including doubling of operational airports from 74 to 159 in just the last decade, and the imminent opening of second airports in Delhi and is, nevertheless, remarkable that, even as India surpasses 350 mn annual air travellers and becomes the world's third-largest domestic air travel market , most of its opportunity lies ahead. With a country of 1.4 bn people and 6.5% annual GDP growth, yet an intensity of air travel 1/5th that of China, potential demand is has long punched well below its weight, operating a fraction of the long-haul fleet of even some city-states. As this situation is addressed, and more non-stop flights are added between India and the world's major cities, global air travel flows will be is opportunity to better serve, and draw back to Indian carriers, the 35-mn-strong Indian diaspora. And, then, there's opportunity for India to connect the world. 130 mn international travellers fly over India each year, with many connecting through an airport nearby. The right combination of network, customer experience and value for money, coupled with increasing business and tourism allure, can shift the centre of aviation gravity and steer more economic benefit toward Indian success is not inevitable. Realising India's opportunity will require sustained and aligned effort. Investment by airlines and airports must continue on aircraft, product, people and customers, as well as on supporting infrastructure, such as training and aviation enablers - such as air navigation system providers, immigration and customs services - all need to plan for the growth ahead and build capacity and efficiency to accommodate what will be a step-change in volume. National and state policy affecting ease, clarity and cost of doing business must draw from the world's best practice, as must application of regulation and deployment of technology. Coordination of all the pieces must be effective, consistent and aligned to a decades-long won't be easy. But examples of what happens when the key cards are played right are nearby and there for all to see. Equally, one need not look too far, in either distance or time, to see the opposite. Aviation can be an even larger engine and catalyst of India's national writer is CEO-MD, Air India
