Indian government suggested changing the route for more humanitarian aid through Iran.Â
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On June 8, Indian humanitarian aid en route to Afghanistan was being smuggled into Pakistan under the premise of making a “return voyage” after it arrived in Afghanistan.
According to a story published by Khaama Press on May 31, Taliban security officials in Helmand province stopped 50 wheat-laden vehicles from crossing the border into Pakistan illegally.
According to Hafiz Rashid Helmandi, the Taliban’s Director of Information and Culture for Helmand province, more wheat-laden trucks were detained on the Herat-Kandahar highway on May 30.
The vehicles were loaded in the Washir region of Helmand province’s company area before being transported to Pakistan.
So far, there has been no more information about any punitive action.
India’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
India has previously stated that it will supply 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan.
On February 26, the first delivery of humanitarian relief from India, consisting of 2,500 tonnes of wheat, arrived in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, via Pakistan.
According to the MEA, India’s second humanitarian relief convoy, carrying 2,000 MTs of wheat, left Attari, Amritsar, on March 3 for Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Furthermore, on March 8, India transferred a third shipment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via the Attari-Wagah border in 40 vehicles.
On March 15, the fourth shipment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat was sent to Afghanistan across the Attari-Wagah border.
India to Afghanistan via Pakistan
According to a press release from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of Pakistan approved the transportation of 50,000 MTs of wheat and life-saving medicines as humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan via the Wagah border on an exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes in November 2021 as a special gesture to the Afghan people.
The deadline for transporting humanitarian aid expires on March 21, 2022.
The Government of India requested a two-month delay to finish the transportation process for 50,000 Metric Tonnes (MTs) of wheat and life-saving medications to be delivered to Afghanistan as humanitarian aid.
Pakistan is clearly enjoying the benefit of its geographical location between India and Afghanistan.
India suggests changing the route
India has proposed shipping more consignments to Chabahar through Mumbai, Kandla, or Mundra on the West Coast and following the Iranian land route to Herat.
This would prevent delays at the Punjab border when trucks queue to be unloaded and transported further across Pakistan.
This also eliminates the need for Pakistani checkpoints, minimizing the likelihood of smuggling.
According to reports, the Taliban agreed that consignment’snt’s route needed to be changed.
