India signed an MoU with the UN World Food Programme for distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat that it will send to Afghanistan via the land border with Pakistan. While calling for unhindered access to humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, India had also maintained that it was important to involve UN for aid distribution to ensure it was non-discriminatory.
India had proposed in October last year that Pakistan allow India to ship 50,000 MT of wheat through the land route. After all approvals obtained from Pakistan, India will finally start despatching the grain to Afghanistan “very soon”. Elections in Punjab and several logistical challenges involving use of thousands of trucks delayed the exercise.
“India and WFP sign landmark agreement today. @WFP thanks @indiainitaly and @MEAIndia for the generous contribution of wheat in support of the people of Afghanistan facing severe food shortages,” tweeted WFP.
