First Afghanistan-India air cargo service takes off

The flight from Afghanistan to India, which officials from both countries hope will be the first of many, departed Monday carrying approximately $5 million worth of goods, according to a report form Reuters news service.    The first air cargo service between Afghanistan and India took off Monday, transporting about $5 million worth of goods comprising 60 tons of Afghan plants with medicinal uses.
   Indian officials said the service aims to improve landlocked Afghanistan’s links to markets abroad and boost the growth prospects of its agricultural and carpet industries, Reuters reported.
   “Our aim is to change Afghanistan to an exporter country,” Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said. “As long as we are not an exporter country, then poverty and instability will not be eliminated.”
   Afghan and Indian officials hope this will be the first of many flights, allowing companies in their countries to bypass Pakistan, which limits the shipment of goods by land between the two countries.
   A second flight is scheduled to depart from Kandahar, Afghanistan to India next week carrying 40 tons of dried fruit.