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Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan would ‘favourably’ accept the Taliban regime’s request for India to send wheat via Pakistan on a “exceptional basis” for humanitarian grounds. According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Khan voiced his views to a delegation led by Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
“In the current environment,” the statement stated, “the Prime Minister expressed that Pakistan would favourably consider the request by Afghan brethren for transportation of wheat provided by India through Pakistan on an exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes and subject to conditions to be worked out.”
“Imran Khan has underlined Islamabad’s commitment to helping Afghanistan and its people overcome the challenges they face. He also emphasised the critical importance of a peaceful, stable, sovereign, economic, and well-connected Afghanistan for Pakistan and the rest of the region.”
The statement went on to say that “sustained security and decisive counter-terrorism efforts, respect for all Afghans’ rights, and inclusivity in governance and politics would further contribute to Afghanistan’s stability.”
Pakistan refuses to let Indian shipments to Afghanistan pass across its borders.
Mary Ellen Mc Groarty, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) country director in Afghanistan, revealed in October that the programme is in negotiations with India about donating wheat to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Following a meeting with Indian officials in October, the Taliban claimed that New Delhi had signalled a willingness to offer considerable humanitarian help to Afghans.
Since the Taliban assumed control of the country, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated, as has the security situation.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that millions of Afghans may go hungry this winter unless immediate action is done.
Between now and March of next year, about 23 million Afghans, or 55% of the country’s population, are expected to be in food crisis or emergency situations.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed alarm in its most recent situation report over “conditional humanitarianism” or attempts to “leverage” humanitarian aid for political goals.
