Delivery of wheat to Afghanistan via the Attari Wagah border was still being considered, as per as sources.

Even as India continues to discuss modalities for transporting 50,000 MT to Afghanistan through the land route, recently Iran has also offered to help India deliver humanitarian aid including wheat to the country under Taliban rule. According to the Government sources the delivery of wheat via the Attari-Wagah border was still being considered and that help will be sought from Iran only if this option through. On other side India has already shared details of Afghan contractors and drivers who will ferry the wheat to Afghanistan and Pakistan media, quoting local sources, reported late last month that India and Pakistan were to finalising an agreement for the supply of 50,000 MT of Indian wheat to Afghanistan.

The Iranian offer to India came in a conversation that foreign minister S Jaishankar had with his counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian Saturday in which the 2 leaders discussed key bilateral and regional issues. On twitter Iranian foreign ministry tweeted, “Regarding Afghanistan, @Amirabdolahian stressed the need to form an inclusive government in the country. He also referred to India’s humanitarian aid to #Afghanistan, announcing measures and cooperation by Iran to transfer aid in the form of wheat, medicine… to the country”. 

Imran Khan

He also referred to India’s humanitarian aid to #Afghanistan, announcing measures and cooperation by Iran to transfer aid in the form of wheat, medicine… to the country”. 

Significantly, the Iranian offer also came on a day the Taliban foreign minister, Amir Muttaqi, arrived in Tehran for discussions on “economic, transit and refugee issues”. India though always had the option of the wheat through the Chabahar wheat it has helped develop in Iran. The government in fact, had supplied 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan through the same port in 2020. However, India has so far not contemplated the Chabahar option apparently because it remains unsure about the security of the route in Afghanistan that will likely be used in that case. 

Manwhile India has already sent 3 consignments of aid to Afghanistan, comprising mostly life-saving medicines, it’s the promise of wheat that the Taliban dispensation in Kabul, crippled by an acute food shortage, has been looking forward to the most from India. The Taliban foreign minister had even raised the need for Pakistan to quickly approve proposal for delivery of wheat to Afghanistan during his meeting with Pakistan PM Imran Khan in Islamabad in November. India reiterated last week that it stood committed to continuing its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and providing them humanitarian assistance. This was also the reason why, despite reservations, it backed a UNSC resolution last month meant to ensure sactions against the Taliban didn’t block humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. 

Wheat

 This was also the reason why, despite reservations, it backed a UNSC resolution last month meant to ensure sactions against the Taliban didn’t block humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. 

While countries like India and France wanted a short time limit for Taliban sanction exemption, apart from strong oversight, China and Russia ensured there was no time limit  for the exemption. India also dramatically proposed to Pakistan, that the latter allows transport of wheat via the India-Pakistan border. Islamabad had famously rejected the same proposal by India in 2002.

Border

India also dramatically proposed to Pakistan, that the latter allows transport of wheat via the India-Pakistan border.