India in partnership with UN to send 20K MT wheat to Afghanistan

By Nada Ali On Mar 8, 2023

An Indian Border Security Force soldier guards trucks carrying wheat from India to Afghanistan. Photo Credit: PTI/File

India will send 20,000 metric tons of wheat for Afghan people in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, through the Chabahar Port in order to address the humanitarian crisis, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

The announcement came during the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan was held in New Delhi, which attended by senior officials from India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

India also agreed during JWG to offer customised capacity building courses for UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) officials and stakeholders, the statement mentioned.

The participants emphasised the importance of the formation of a truly inclusive and representative political structure that respects the rights of all Afghans and ensures equal rights for women.

Noteworthy, that India had sent about 40,000 metric tons of 50,000 MT promised last year after an agreement with the previous Prime Minister Imran Khan government, the shipments had to be called off after floods in Pakistan.