India Delivers a Strategic ‘Dose’ in Afghanistan, Pakistan Reels

New Delhi: In a major geopolitical and economic move, India has strengthened its footprint in Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical sector, dealing a significant blow to Pakistan’s longstanding dominance in the market. Indian medicines are now rapidly replacing Pakistani brands, reshaping the regional supply chain and boosting Afghanistan’s healthcare access.

India’s Strategic Move Against Pakistan
Historically, Pakistan dominated Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical imports, supplying 70–85% of the country’s medicines. But recent political and economic shifts, combined with border tensions, have accelerated India’s entry. Afghan blogger Fazal Afghan reported that Indian medicines were four times cheaper than comparable Pakistani or Turkish brands, offering better results and significantly reducing costs for consumers.

Pharmaceutical Market Dynamics
According to experts, Pakistan’s share in Afghanistan’s medicine market had already been declining since 2024. Following several border skirmishes in late 2025, Afghan authorities, led by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, banned low-quality Pakistani medicines and encouraged traders to source alternatives from India, Iran, and Central Asia. In response, India increased its exports: $108 million worth of medicines were sent to Kabul in FY 2024-25, followed by another $100 million in 2025.

Geopolitical and Humanitarian Strategy
Afghanistan’s dependence on imported medicines, due to minimal domestic production, made Indian intervention crucial. India’s support began with emergency medical shipments in November 2025, including 73 tons of life-saving medicines. Earlier, India had provided vaccines for rabies and hepatitis B, six fully equipped ambulances, and an advanced 128-slice CT scanner. Following the 2022 earthquake, India also sent half a million COVID vaccines as part of 13 tons of medical aid.

Strengthening Afghanistan’s Healthcare Infrastructure
Beyond emergency shipments, India has supplied 327 tons of medical facilities over four years, built five maternal and healthcare clinics in different provinces, and pledged a 30-bed hospital in Kabul. India is also developing major healthcare centers, including oncology, trauma, diagnostics, and thalassemia facilities, cementing its long-term role in Afghanistan’s health ecosystem.

Indian Pharma Companies Take Lead
Indian pharmaceutical firms are expanding their presence beyond Kabul. In November 2025, Zydus Lifesciences signed a $100 million MoU with Afghanistan’s Rofis International Group in Dubai. The agreement initially focuses on exports, but plans to include technology transfer, establishing a local Zydus office, and setting up domestic manufacturing to reduce Afghanistan’s import dependency.

Impact on Pakistan
The combined effect of India’s affordable, high-quality medicines, strategic exports, and healthcare infrastructure support has disrupted Pakistan’s historical grip on Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical market. Analysts say this move not only strengthens India-Afghanistan ties but also delivers a clear geopolitical message to Pakistan, signaling India’s rising influence in the region.