India sends first supply of medical supplies to Afghanistan post Taliban takeover

India on Saturday sent medical supplies to Afghanistan in the first tranche of humanitarian aid since the Taliban took control of the country, keeping with its commitment to assist Afghans in their hour of need.

The medical supplies were delivered on a return aircraft from Kabul on Friday, which had transported 10 Indians and 94 Afghans to Delhi.

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 said.

"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 for unrestricted humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in order to ease the country's humanitarian problems.

At the same time, India has called for the development of a truly inclusive administration in Kabul, while emphasising that no terrorist actions against any country should be carried out on Afghan soil.

India has been advocating for unrestricted humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in order to ease the country's humanitarian problems.

At the same time, India has called for the development of a truly inclusive administration in Kabul, while emphasising that no terrorist actions against any country should be carried out on Afghan soil.

India has previously stated that it will carry 50,000 tonnes of wheat and medicines to Afghanistan via Pakistani roads. The modalities for transporting the consignments are now being finalised by India and Pakistan.

According to the MEA, a special jet leased by India from Kabul to Delhi delivered 10 Indians and 94 Afghans on Friday.

"The flight brought 10 Indians and 94 Afghans, including members of Afghan minority community. The minority community members carried with them two 'Swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib' and some ancient Hindu manuscripts," it said.

The people were rescued as part of India's "Operation Devi Shakti," which was initiated on August 15 to evacuate Indians and Afghans from Afghanistan following the Taliban's seizure of Kabul.

"Under 'Operation Devi Shakti', a total of 669 people have now been evacuated from Afghanistan. This comprises 448 Indians and 206 Afghans, which includes members of the Afghan Hindu/Sikh minority community," the MEA said.

In the month of August, 565 people were evacuated from Afghanistan, including 438 Indians.

The recent developments in Afghanistan have disturbed India.

On November 10, it hosted a regional debate on Afghanistan attended by Russia's, Iran's, Kazakhstan's, Kyrgyzstan's, Tajikistan's, Turkmenistan's, and Uzbekistan's National Security Advisors (NSAs).

The participating countries pledged to cooperate to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists, and they called for the development of a "open and truly inclusive" government in Kabul with representation from all segments of Afghan society.

Officials lent strong support for a peaceful, secure, and stable Afghanistan, according to a declaration released at the end of the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan. Afghan territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning, or financing any terrorist acts, according to the declaration.