New Delhi, Jan. 12 -- Afghanistan's border tensions with Pakistan, which led to the shutdown of vital transit routes, may have opened up a $200 million pharmaceutical opportunity for India.

India is expanding its pharmaceutical footprint in Afghanistan, a region of significant geopolitical importance, in the backdrop of the conflict-ridden nation's tense ties with Pakistan, according to three government officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

India is positioning itself as a reliable provider of high-quality medicines to address acute shortages in the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. This comes in the backdrop of high-level discussions between the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), a body under the commerce mini...