Pakistan, India reach compromise on wheat shipment to Afghanistan

Pakistan and India on Friday reached a compromise to transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via the Wagah border as the shipment would be carried out by the Afghan trucks. Earlier, Islamabad, as per modalities, proposed that wheat should be transported through Pakistani trucks under the banner of the UN. But New Delhi made a counter proposal, suggesting the wheat be carried either by Afghan or Indian trucks. Pakistan rejected the Indian proposal of using Indian trucks but after consideration, agreed to allow  Afghan trucks for the purpose. “With a view to further facilitate Pakistan’s decision to allow transportation of 50,000 MT of wheat and life-saving medicines from India to Afghanistan via Wagah border on an exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes, it has been decided to also allow the use of Afghan trucks for transportation from Wagah border to Torkham,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said. “This demonstrates the commitment and seriousness of the Government of Pakistan to facilitate the proposed humanitarian assistance,” the statement added. The decision was conveyed to the Charge d’ Affaires of India today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Indian government was also urged to proceed quickly to take necessary steps to expeditiously undertake the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Diplomatic sources said both sides reached a compromise in order help the people of Afghanistan, who are in desperate need of help. Pakistan is now waiting for the official response from New Delhi before the humanitarian assistance starts flowing to Afghanistan from India.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | eTribune https://ift.tt/3diRzvI