New Delhi, Jan 28 (Bureau) Even as India has sent medical aid and 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Afghanistan, its proposed shipment of 50,000 MT of wheat as humanitarian assistance for Afghans remains stuck in “processes” with Pakistan, more than two months after the two sides formally agreed for transportation of the wheat consignment by road via the Wagah border. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a briefing on Friday that they are involved in the process to procure the wheat and to arrange its transportation. “Government is committed to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people comprising of foodgrains, Covid vaccines and essential lifesaving drugs. During the last few weeks, 3.6 tonnes of medical assistance and 500,000 doses of Covid vaccines have been supplied.
“The process to procure the wheat and to arrange its transportation is currently underway. Naturally this takes some time. We will share with you updates as soon as we have them. We hope to be able to do this shortly.” Islamabad has agreed to allow the wheat transportation through its territory as a one-time concession to India. On October 7 last year, India had written to Pakistan requesting passage for the wheat consignment. However, Pakistan sat on the proposal for weeks. It was only after the Taliban leadership personally interceded with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in November to allow the wheat trucks from India, that he agreed to it on ”exceptional basis”, in view of the dire situation in Afghanistan. The Indian High Commission was informed on November 24. But since then, besides the medical supplies that India has sent via air to Afghanistan, there appears no movement regarding the shipment of the wheat consignment. India has maintained that humanitarian aid should not be subject to conditionalities, after Pakistan was earlier reported to have insisted that the wheat be loaded on to their trucks at Wagah, which India refused. However, both sides arrived at an agreement to have the wheat loaded on to Afghan trucks, under the UN mandate.