Pakistan rejects India’s humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

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• Dec 3, 2021 | Deleted

Islamabad: Pakistan government has refused India’s approach to Transport 50,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan as humanitarian aid either in Indian or Afghan trucks through the Wagah border, the report said.

Last week, Pakistan announced that India could transport wheat and life-saving drugs to Afghanistan through its territory on humanitarian grounds.

However, official sources alleged that New Delhi was dragging its feet by suggesting “unfeasible” options for the transportation of wheat to Afghanistan.

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As per reports, to provide a transit facility, Pakistan has proposed that the goods from India to Pakistan be transported in Pakistani trucks from the Wagah border point. On the contrary, India said that its truck would transport the goods from India to Afghanistan as it would help ensure that the aid reaches the targeted beneficiaries.

An Indian official said, “India is keen on ensuring that aid reaches the intended beneficiaries without being diverted and wants the distribution of the relief materials through a credible international agency.”

Moreover, Pakistan suggests that the trucks under the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) should transport the goods to Afghanistan from India.

Reportedly, Pakistan does not consider the decision as a condition; on the contrary, it considers this a framework to facilitate India’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

A Pakistan official said, “Since there is no two-way trade between Afghanistan and India through Pakistan, even New Delhi knows its trucks cannot be used to transport wheat. The option of transportation in Afghan trucks is not possible as there was no direct trade between Afghanistan and India via Pakistan.”

India, who had contributed to the Afghan people’s humanitarian requirements, including more than 1 million tons of wheat to the distressed nation over the past decade, sought Pakistan’s permission to transport it through the Wagah border.

Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had also requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to allow India to transport wheat through Pakistan, stating that the Taliban government is willing to accept the humanitarian aid from India.