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New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) Continuing with humanitarian assistance, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that India has provided additional food supplies to Afghanistan for the people affected by the earthquake.
“India has provided additional food supplies to people affected by the earthquake as part of its ongoing humanitarian assistance,” Jaiswal said on Twitter.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Far said that this announcement was made by Foreign Minister Jaishankar during his meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaki.
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met his Afghanistan counterpart Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaki in New Delhi and the two discussed India’s support to Afghanistan’s development, bilateral trade, territorial integrity and independence, people-to-people relations and capacity building among many other issues.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said Muttaki’s visit to India is an “important step” in taking bilateral relations forward. He also announced handing over five ambulances to Afghanistan.
Highlighting India’s assistance to Afghanistan over the years, he said, “India has long supported Afghanistan’s health security, including during the COVID pandemic. We are now committed to six new projects, details of which can be announced after the conclusion of our talks. The gift of 20 ambulances is another gesture of goodwill, and I would like to personally hand over 5 of them to you as a symbolic step.”
“India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and distribute vaccines for vaccination and cancer drugs. We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are ready to do more. As a first responder, Indian relief materials were delivered to earthquake sites within hours of the disaster last month. We would like to contribute to the reconstruction of habitats in the affected areas. India is also providing a significant amount of food assistance. Has also been a provider. Afghan people. Another consignment will be delivered to Kabul today.”
Emphasizing that Kabul has always valued good relations with India, Muttaki also assured that Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used against other countries.
He said, “In the recent earthquake in Afghanistan, India was the first responder. Afghanistan views India as a close friend. Afghanistan wants a relationship based on mutual respect, trade and people-to-people ties.”
–IANS
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