New Delhi: India dispatched medical supplies to Afghanistan in the first batch of humanitarian aid since the Taliban took over the nation on Saturday, in keeping with its commitment to assisting the Afghan people in their hour of need.
The medical supplies were delivered on a return trip from Kabul to Delhi on Friday, which brought 10 Indians and 94 Afghans.
The consignments will be handed over to WHO representatives in Kabul, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
"In view of the challenging humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the Government of India has dispatched humanitarian assistance consisting of medical supplies on the return flight today," the MEA was quoted by PTI in its report.
'Medicine Will Be Handed Over To WHO Representatives'
"These 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 Hospital, Kabul," it said in a statement.
India has been advocating unrestricted humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan in order to solve the country's looming humanitarian disaster.
At the same time, India has urged Kabul to build a truly inclusive administration while maintaining that Afghan land not be utilised for terrorist actions against any nation.
India has previously indicated that it will supply 50,000 tonnes of wheat and medicines to Afghanistan through Pakistan via road. India and Pakistan are now finalising the transit details for the consignments.
'Operation Devi Shakti': India Evacuate 10 Indians And 94 Afghans Via Leased Jet
According to the MEA, a special jet leased by India from Kabul to Delhi evacuated 10 Indians and 94 Afghans on Friday.
"The flight brought 10 Indians and 94 Afghans, including members of the Afghan minority community. The minority community members carried with them two 'Swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib' and some ancient Hindu manuscripts," the statement further reads.
The individuals were taken under India's "Operation Devi Shakti," which was initiated to evacuate both Indians and Afghans from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15.
In the month of August, 565 individuals were evacuated from Afghanistan, including 438 Indians.
India is concerned about recent events in Afghanistan.
On November 10, it held a regional conversation on Afghanistan attended by the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The attending nations pledged to work together to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for global terrorists, and they urged for the development of a "open and truly inclusive" government in Kabul, with representation from all segments of Afghan society.
(With inputs from PTI)