The Implications of India's Aid to Afghanistan

• This aid, in the form of wheat, is a direct response to the prevailing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which is grappling with acute food shortages and economic instability.
• The decision to transport the aid via the Chabahar port in Iran, instead of the Pakistan route, holds strategic implications. Earlier, Pakistan had agreed to permit Indian wheat shipments to Afghanistan, but later reneged on the agreement due to floods and the expiration of the agreed timeframe.
• Utilizing the Chabahar port for this aid underscores India's commitment to the development of this strategic port. The port offers a direct sea-land access route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
• India's significant investment in the Chabahar port is part of a broader strategy to counterbalance China's increasing influence in the region, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) .
• The Chabahar port is integral to India's connectivity plans with Afghanistan and Central Asia, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Ashgabat Agreement .
• This humanitarian aid aligns with India's commitment to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), its 'neighbourhood first' policy, and helps in enhancing its soft power.

The Food Crisis in Afghanistan:

• Since the Taliban assumed control in Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has been beset by a severe economic crisis, exacerbated by natural calamities like droughts, floods, and earthquakes.
• As of August 2022, Afghanistan has the unfortunate distinction of topping the list of countries with insufficient food consumption.
• The Stark Reality of Starvation:
  • As per data from August 2022, nine out of ten Afghan families are unable to afford adequate food, the highest rate globally. Approximately six million people are at risk of famine, and two-thirds of the population requires humanitarian aid. Malnutrition rates are at an all-time high.
  • Half of the provinces in the country report high malnutrition rates in children under five years of age, affecting four million children and mothers.
• The Composition of Food Supplies:
  • Each family receives 50 kg of wheat flour, 4.55 litres of vegetable oil, 6.25 kg of pulses, and 500 grams of salt several times a month.
  • In addition, specialized food and supplements are provided to families with children aged between six to 59 months, as well as to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, to prevent malnutrition.

A Closer Look at India's Aid to Afghanistan

• For families in dire straits, the food aid provided by India and other nations has been a lifeline.
• Since February 2022, India has delivered 40,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan.
• India has signed an MoU with the WFP to provide an additional 10,000 tonnes of wheat as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, which is currently facing a food crisis.
• The Food Corporation of India is facilitating the supply, which is being transported from India’s integrated check post at Attari to Jalalabad in Afghanistan.

Other Relief Measures Undertaken by India in Afghanistan:

• Indian NGOs have been providing training and support to empower Afghan women to become self-reliant.
• In addition to the dispatch of 40,000 MTs of wheat, India has also sent 50 tons of medicine, 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine, winter clothing, and 28 tons of disaster relief supplies to assist.

India’s Recent Humanitarian Food Assistance Efforts:

• India has a history of providing humanitarian food assistance to countries in need, often partnering with WFP for such initiatives.
  • In 2020, India extended food assistance of 270 million tons to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea to help them deal with natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • In 2021, India transported 500 tons of food aid to Mozambique.
  • In 2022, India provided 85,000 tons of wheat to Yemen via the Black Sea Grain Initiative .

An Overview of the Chabahar Port

• The Chabahar Port, located in southeastern Iran on the Gulf of Oman, is a crucial seaport.
• For India, this port holds strategic importance as it offers a key gateway to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• India has invested in the development of the Chabahar Port with the intention of using it as a hub for trade and commerce with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• India has been utilizing the Chabahar Port for sending shipments of wheat to Afghanistan.
• For Iran, the port is equally significant as it provides an alternative trade route to bypass Pakistan and access markets in India and beyond.
• The Chabahar Port is part of a larger transportation corridor project, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) , which aims to connect India to Russia via Iran and Central Asia.
• Despite some setbacks due to U.S. sanctions on Iran, India has continued to support the development of the Chabahar Port.

Learn more about the Chabahar Port .