In view of the latest situation in Afghanistan, India has extended its humanitarian helping hand. Neighbouring country Pakistan may not have liked this and has rejected India's offer. In fact, India was trying to send 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through Indian or Afghan trucks through the Wagha border, but Pakistan imposed a strange condition on this too and the Afghan citizens are suffering.
Last week, Pakistan officially informed India of its decision to allow the transportation of wheat and life-saving medicines from its territory to neighboring Afghanistan "except for humanitarian purposes". Official sources here alleged that New Delhi is suggesting "impractical" options to transport wheat to Afghanistan. India is also in talks with Pakistan to transport wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan. According to officials who are familiar with the matter, Pakistan is insisting that consignments of wheat and medicines to be sent to Afghanistan should be sent in Pakistani trucks from the Wagha border while India is trying to use its own trucks.
In New Delhi, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said there should be no provision for humanitarian cooperation. According to officials who are familiar with the matter, Pakistan insists that cargo of wheat and medicines to be exported to Afghanistan should be sent by Pakistani trucks from the Wagah border, while India is trying to use its own trucks. The newspaper quoted a senior Pakistani foreign official as saying that Pakistan's methods should not be taken as a condition. He said this was to facilitate India's assistance to Afghanistan.
