Pakistan allows shipment of wheat from India to Afghanistan

Islamabad – Pakistan has realised the consequences of stopping humanitarian aid from India to the people of Afghanistan who are facing sever crisis since Taliban took over. Therefore, Pakistan has expressed willingness to allow passage of the 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat being sent by India to Afghanistan. Pakistan radio reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan has indicated willingness for the proposal. It is claimed that Taliban had pressurised Pakistan to come to this decision.

The Afghan population is faced with food shortage, price rise and many other problems. The United Nations officials had expressed concern and warned that the problem of food shortage will only intensify in the coming winter. Even before these indications from United Nations, India had identified the looming crisis and had prepared to send 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. India had even requested Pakistan to open the route for transport.

Over the last decade, India had supplied nearly one million metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. In the last year alone, India supplied 75,000 metric tonnes. But Pakistan had taken the decision to stop the route for humanitarian aid sent by India to Afghanistan. Pakistan is worried that this aid will strengthen ties between India and Afghanistan which will allow India to gain influence on Taliban. Therefore, Pakistan had stopped the route for wheat supply to the Afghan people.

But a few days ago, Amir Khan, Foreign Minister of Taliban visited Pakistan and reprimanded them to open the route for the Indian wheat to Afghanistan. This seems to have led Pakistan to announce their willingness to open the route for humanitarian aid from India to Afghanistan.