India is increasing its soft power in Afghanistan by providing life-saving aid through Iran, sidelining Pakistan which once played a major role in matters of Afghanistan, according to sources.
The Indian donation of 20,000 metric tons of wheat is scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan in the coming months, according to a spokesperson of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).
The vital aid is aimed at helping Afghanistan’s hunger striven population and strengthening India’s long-lasting relations with the war-torn country.
It also fulfills New Delhi’s commitment to ship the wheat to Afghanistan through Iran’s Chabahar port. The goods will eventually cross the Iranian border into Afghanistan’s eastern Herat province.
Previously, commercial goods from India were delivered to Afghanistan through Pakistan instead of Iran. This shipment also translates to Iran’s new role in providing goods to Afghanistan and Pakistan’s peripheral role.
WFP claims that more than 19 million people in Afghanistan are suffering from acute food insecurity and hunger, putting the lives of millions of people and livelihoods in immediate danger, according to Nikkei Asia, a Japanese publication that provides Asian news and analysis to a global audience.
“The humanitarian needs across the country remain very high,” the representative said, adding that “India’s grant will help us reach hungry families where the need is greatest.”
The decision to deliver 20,000 metric tons of wheat not only strengthens India’s position as an important donor to Afghanistan but also underlines efforts to build positive relations with Afghanistan’s de facto administration.
Despite not recognizing the Taliban administration that took power in August 2021, India restored its diplomatic presence in Kabul deploying a “technical team” in mid-2022. According to experts, the region is too important to leave.
