ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan is eagerly waiting for Indian wheat which is to reach Kabul via Pakistan, but Indian officials have failed to deliver food grains to Pakistan's border, though Islamabad has offered the facility to transfer the grain in the interest of the Afghan people. of those who are suffering.
Reports said India has so far failed to deliver a schedule for the supply, although New Delhi had earlier indicated that its 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat would be supplied by early next month. This offer was given in October last year.
Indian sources claimed that New Delhi has signed contracts with Afghan transporters for thousands of trucks to pick up wheat from the Pakistan-India border and transport it to Afghanistan. The wheat will then be handed over to the United Nations (UN) agencies like the World Food Program (WFP) for distribution in the country.
However, complex logistics still need to be streamlined, including ensuring a steady supply of wheat from Indian storage facilities to the Pakistani border. New Delhi expects these preparations are in the final stages, with the first supplies scheduled to start in early February.
The indications of resumption of supplies came against the backdrop of Pakistan reiterating that it was still waiting for India's response on the modalities to resume deliveries.
Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson said in two days, "We have apprised India of the necessary details about the arrangements made by Pakistan, and for about three weeks now, about the date of dispatch and the other about the first consignment." Looking forward to further response from India regarding the information." First.
India had sent a proposal to Pakistan on October 07, 2021, seeking a transit facility to send 50,000 tonnes of wheat and life-saving medicines to Afghanistan via the Pakistani route. Pakistan agreed to allow Afghan trucks to pick up wheat from the Wagah border on November 24, 2021.
Islamabad's permission was necessary as Pakistan does not allow two-way trade between Afghanistan and India through its territory. Tensions remain between Pakistan and India, the lowest point in recent years being cross-border airstrikes in 2019.