India’s Ministry of External Affairs has announced the delivery of 73 tons of medicines, vaccines, and “essential supplements” to Afghanistan.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the ministry, said on Friday (November 28) that the shipment had been dispatched to Kabul to help address urgent healthcare needs. He added that India’s “steadfast support for the people of Afghanistan continues.”
The move comes as the Taliban, amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, have expanded political and commercial engagement with India, including increased pharmaceutical imports.
Under an agreement between the Taliban’s minister of industry and trade and Indian officials, several Indian companies are set to assess possibilities for producing medicines inside Afghanistan.
On Thursday (November 27), an Afghan firm also signed a US$100 million agreement with an Indian company for the import and production of pharmaceutical products.
The Taliban have meanwhile given Afghan drug importers a three-month deadline to settle their accounts with Pakistani supplies, after which imports of medicines from Pakistan will be completely banned.
