Pakistan to dispatch humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

Islamabad will continue to do its best to help Afghan brethren during the prevalent challenging environment, says FO

The government of Pakistan on Wednesday decided to dispatch humanitarian assistance comprising food and medicines for the people of Afghanistan, Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.

"Three C-130s are being dispatched to Afghanistan. After the first immediate tranche through the air, further supplies would continue through land routes," it added.

It said that the government would continue to do its best to help Afghan brethren during the prevalent challenging environment.

Read more: Preventing humanitarian, economic crises in Afghanistan key priorities, says FM Qureshi

"Pakistan also urges the international community to play its role in helping the people of Afghanistan to avert a possible humanitarian crisis," it further said.

The development comes hours after China said it will provide 200 million yuan ($31 million) worth of grain, winter supplies, vaccines and medicine to Afghanistan, adding that it had already decided to donate an initial batch of 3 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Afghan people.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the United States and its allies have more of a duty to supply economic and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan than any other country, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Also read: Qureshi urges world to stay engaged, Raab firm UK won’t recognise Taliban rule

"All parties should strengthen intelligence sharing and border control cooperation to catch and eliminate terrorist groups that have sneaked in from Afghanistan," in order to ensure regional security and stability, Wang said.

On Tuesday, the Taliban announced a new government in Afghanistan, giving top posts to those fighters who dominated the 20-year battle against the coalition and its Afghan government allies.

At a press conference in capital Kabul, chief Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid unveiled a 33-member cabinet, which included Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund as the new prime minister, while the group’s top negotiator with the US Mullah Ghani Baradar to be his deputy.

Read: Taliban deny Pakistan’s interference

There are no women in the new interim government, which has been announced after the approval of Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah. According to the Taliban spokesperson, both Mullah Akhund and Mullah Baradar were nominated to the two top posts by Mullah Haibatullah.

Other ministers are Maulvi Abdul Hakeem, minister for justice; Khalilur Rehman for refugee affairs; Mullah Hidayatullah Badari, excise and taxation; Maulvi Noorullah Muneer, customs; Qari Deen Hanif, economy; Maulvi Noor Muhammad Saqib, Hajj and Auqaf; Mullah Noorullah Noori, state and frontier regions; Mullah Muhammad Younas Akhundzada, minerals; Sheikh Muhammad Khalid, preaching and forbidding sins; Mullah Abdul Manan Umari, general discipline; Haji Mullah Muhammad Esa Akhund, petroleum; Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, power and energy; Mullah Hamidullah Akhundzada, transport and aviation; Maulvi Abdul Baqi Haqqani, customs; Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq, general and public intelligence; and Maulvi Ahmed Jan Ahmadi, works.