New Delhi: India on Tuesday (March 7, 2023) announced humanitarian aid including wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar port in Iran. It is the first time since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2020 that the India-built Chabahar port will be used to send aid to the landlocked country.
According to an official statement, the Indian side extended its partnership with the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) for the delivery of 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the “Afghan people” through the Chabahar port to address the “current humanitarian situation”. has announced.
In 2020, India used the Chabahar port to send 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat as humanitarian food aid to Afghanistan.
Taliban welcomes India’s aid
The Taliban welcomed the development and said they “greatly appreciate” the distribution of 20,000 metric tons of wheat.
Speaking to Zee News, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said, “We highly appreciate the delivery of 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat for the Afghan people through Chabahar Port. Such humanitarian steps increase the trust between the two countries.” that will lead to a mutually positive relationship.”
The humanitarian aid comes even as India has not recognized the Taliban regime in Kabul, but is in talks with it.
Read this also | Budget 2023: India announces Rs 200 crore aid for Afghanistan; Taliban Responds
The announcement came on a day when the India-Central Asia Working Group met in Afghanistan.
The group includes all five countries in Central Asia – Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – and it was the first time the group had met.
After the meeting, a joint statement was also issued which called for an inclusive government in Kabul, among other issues.