Pakistan would ‘favourably’ consider the request by the Taliban regime for transporting wheat offered by India through the country on an “exceptional basis” for humanitarian purposes, said Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Imran Khan expressed the views while speaking to a delegation led by Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Dawn reported citing Prime Minister’s Office’s statement.
The development came a day after India emphasised the urgent need to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people and acknowledged, without directly naming Pakistan that efforts in this regard are being held up by the lack of unhindered access.
India’s efforts to provide relief materials to the Afghan people in recent weeks, including an offer to supply 50,000 tonnes of wheat, have been held up by Pakistan’s refusal to allow the use of its territory for transporting the aid.
“The Prime Minister conveyed that in the current context Pakistan would favourably consider the request by Afghan brothers for transportation of wheat offered by India through Pakistan on exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes and as per modalities to be worked out,” said a tweet from the Pakistani prime minister’s office.
Pakistan will provide essential food items, including wheat and rice, emergency medical supplies, and shelter items to Afghanistan, he said.
Khan also “underscored the urgent need to release Afghanistan’s frozen assets and facilitation of banking transactions to prevent an economic meltdown”.
