Indian delegation led by a senior MEA official will meet with senior members of the Taliban to discuss issues related with humanitarian assistance

A delegation led by the Joint Secretary (PAI) of the Ministry of External Affairs is currently on a visit to Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, to oversee India's humanitarian aid operations in Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement released on June 2.

This is the first time since Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban, a senior Indian official of the rank of Joint Secretary is visiting the land locked country.

During the visit, as per the MEA, the Indian delegation will meet with senior members of the Taliban to discuss providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Apart from this, the team will also meet with representatives of international organizations involved in humanitarian aid distribution. Along with this, the team is expected to visit various locations where Indian programs and initiatives are being implemented.

India has already dispatched several shipments of humanitarian assistance consisting of 20,000 MTs of wheat, 13 tons of medicines, 500,000 doses of Covid vaccine and winter clothing.

“These consignments were handed over to the India Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul and UN specialized agencies including WHO and WFP. Furthermore, India is in the process of shipping more medical assistance and food grains to Afghanistan,” the MEA said.

Furthermore, India has gifted a million doses of made-in-India COVAXIN to Iran for Afghan refugees in Iran and assisted UNICEF via means of presenting nearly 60 million doses of polio vaccine and lots of important medicines.

“India’s development and humanitarian assistance has received a widespread appreciation across the entire spectrum of Afghan society,” the MEA added.

The Ministry highlighted that India has “historical and civilisational ties with the Afghan people" and "these longstanding linkages will hold to guide our approach.”