India lambasts Pakistan over conditions laid for supplying aid to Afghanistan

New Delhi: – India has lambasted Pakistan over the conditions laid for humanitarian aid provided to Afghanistan. The Indian foreign ministry clarified that no terms and conditions would be acceptable for this humanitarian aid. India has prepared to supply 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and essential medicines to Afghanistan. But the Pakistan government has laid a condition that the supply should not be in Indian trucks. India should deliver the cargo at the Pakistan border and Pakistan, in turn, will carry the cargo to Afghanistan.

The international aid provided to Afghanistan stopped after the Taliban took control of the country. As a result, the Afghan population is faced with starvation and the international agencies are warning that the crisis will attain dangerous proportions with the approaching winter. India has expressed willingness to supply 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and essential medicines for the Afghan population battling the food crisis in this grave situation. On 7th October, India proposed this and appealed to Pakistan to provide a passage for this aid.

Pakistan seems to be grappled with the fear that such massive aid by India will brighten the Indian image in the minds of the Afghan people. Besides, Pakistan did not respond to the proposal early due to fear. On 24th November, Pakistan announced that it was prepared to allow the passage. But Pakistan laid out conditions for the supply, which was revealed in the media a few days ago. Pakistan had said that the cargo should be offloaded from the Indian trucks at the Pakistan border and after that, Pakistani trucks will carry the cargo to Afghanistan.

Currently, food grain shortage and inflation are playing havoc in Pakistan. Therefore, there is a dense possibility that the supplies sent by India for Afghanistan will be used in Pakistan instead of reaching Afghanistan. Taking this into account, India has rejected the Pakistani demand and has warned that no terms and conditions will be acceptable for this humanitarian aid. Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi informed that the issue is being discussed with Pakistan and the information will be revealed soon. Bagchi made a suggestive statement that discussions are also being held with like-minded countries on the Afghan issue.

Pakistan could face disgrace on the international level, given this stand to obstruct humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Pakistan, which shows compassion towards the Afghan people, is unwilling to extend minimum cooperation by opening a route to provide humanitarian aid for the same Afghan population. Therefore, it is being exposed to the world that Pakistan has nothing to do with the welfare of the Afghan population. This country with a destructive mentality is implementing selfish policies even in this humanitarian crisis. Pakistan could face significant repercussions for this stand in the coming times. There can also be a reaction from the Taliban.