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Pakistan Proposes To Transport India’s 50,000 Metric Tonnes Wheat To Afghanistan In Their Own Trucks

In October, the Indian government had announced a supply of 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance

Mumbai: Pakistan has turned down India’s proposal to supply 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the distressed nation of Afghanistan in Indian trucks and instead suggested transporting the grain in Pakistani trucks from the Wagah border point.

India offered to send 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan as a part of its humanitarian assistance to the nation from Pakistan via the Wagah border.

Last week, Islamabad had told New Delhi that it would allow the transportation of wheat as well as life-saving drugs to Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds. However, Pakistan was of the view that the options suggested by India were ‘unfeasible’, as reported by Pakistani media.

Islamabad has proposed that the goods from India to Afghanistan be transported in Pakistani trucks from the Wagah border point, according to one of the reports.

“Since there is no two-way trade between Afghanistan and India through Pakistan, even New Delhi knows its trucks cannot be used for the transportation of wheat,” an official from Pakistan’s Foreign Office was quoted as saying by the paper Express Tribune.

Pakistan has suggested that the trucks under the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) should transport the wheat and medicines to Afghanistan from India. According to the newspaper, Pakistan does not view the proposals as a condition, but instead, considers this a framework to facilitate India’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Pointing out that Afghan trucks was not possible for transporting as there was no direct trade between Afghanistan and India via Pakistan, he added, “The ball is in India’s court. There is no delay on our part.”

On the contrary, New Delhi is firm that its own trucks be used for the transportation of humanitarian aid from India to Afghanistan as it will help ensure that the aid reaches targeted beneficiaries.

“India is keen on ensuring that aid reaches the intended beneficiaries without being diverted and wants the distribution of the relief materials through a credible international agency,” sources told news agency PTI.

In October, the Indian government had announced a supply of 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s Talibani government has willingly accepted India’s help and requested Pakistan’s Imran Khan government to help in the transport.

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