NEW DELHI, Dec 11: Even though India has not yet granted recognition to the Taliban government in Afghanistan, it on Saturday dispatched the first consignment of medicines to the war torn country as part of humanitarian assistance to tide over the deteriorating health situation in the country.
India has not recognised the Taliban administration in Afghanistan and has urged the international community to proceed cautiously in dealing with the Taliban in view of its rigid position on issues related to human rights.
The consignment was sent in a special Kam Air flight that brought 10 Indian and 94 Afghan nationals belonging to its minority community on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said. “The medicines will be handed over to the representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Kabul and will be administered at the Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, Kabul,” a statement from the Ministry added.
This is the first time India has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban took over Kabul in August by dislodging the government of President Ashraf Ghani. It is an important development and is likely to be followed by large-scale humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan, which will be given through a transit facility in Pakistan.
It was reported earlier that India is unlikely to recognise the Taliban administration though there is a possibility that there could be medical, educational and other kinds of exchanges between India and Afghanistan.
(Manas Dasgupta)
