What ancient trade route connected India with Afghanistan, and what did it facilitate?

The Uttarāpatha trade route connected India with Afghanistan, dating back to ancient times. The route linked the Ganga plains to Central Asia via Afghanistan and stretched from Gandhāra through Takṣhaśhilā, Varanasi, to Pāṭaliputra. It enabled the flow of Buddhism, Hinduism, art, and philosophy between the regions.