Pakistan to allow Indian trucks carrying wheat ‘on exceptional basis’, Imran Khan tells Taliban delegation

By E2India Last updated Nov 13, 2021 458 0

Islamabad, Nov 12 (Agency) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday told an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan delegation led by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi that Islamabad would “favourably consider” the request by the Afghan Taliban to allow trucks carrying Indian wheat through Pakistan “on exceptional basis”. The Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office said in tweets: “Mr. Amir Khan Muttaqi, Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, called on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI, today. He was accompanied by Acting Ministers for Finance as well as Industry & Commerce and other senior members of the Afghan delegation.”

“The Prime Minister conveyed that in the current context Pakistan would favourably consider the request by Afghan brothers for transportation of wheat offered by India through Pakistan on exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes and as per modalities to be worked out.” Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson of the Afghan Foreign Ministry, said in tweets that Muttaqi “requested the Pakistani PM for further facilitation at Torkham & Chaman crossings & for Afghan trade goods’ transit to Pakistan ports.” “H.E. Imran Khan pledged that Afghan transit via Pakistan would be significantly facilitated, Indian assisted wheat allowed to reach Afghanistan via Wagah port.”

India has been waiting for Pakistan to allow the passage of its trucks carrying 50,000 MT of wheat bound for Afghanistan. Sources in India had earlier said that New Delhi wants to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, where a food crisis has emerged, but Pakistan has denied access to its trucks through its territory. “We would like to help, but we need quick access to Afghanistan, which Pakistan has denied to us. Pakistan claims to be concerned about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, then it should allow humanitarian aid from India,” sources had said. UNI/RN On Friday, the Taliban delegation took up the issue directly with the Pakistan leadership.