India sending 20000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar

  • March 8, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
No Comments

 

 

India sending 20,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar

Subject : International Relations

Section: Places in news

Concept :

  • India is looking to send its next consignment of wheat to Afghanistan as aid via the Chabahar port in Iran.
  • This decision was announced during the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan in Delhi, as the agreement with Pakistan for sending the wheat over the land route has expired and talks to extend the time have not yielded any results.
  • This JWG meeting was held after the India-Central Asia summit in January 2022.
  • At the JWG, India also agreed to offer “customised capacity building courses” for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) officials and cooperate on initiatives to counter drug trafficking and rehabilitation efforts for Afghan drug users, especially women.
  • In the wake of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, India had announced its partnership with the UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) for the delivery of 20,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan.
  • India had sent around 40,000 tonnes out of the 50,000 tonnes promised after an agreement with the previous Pakistan government. However, the shipments were halted after the floods in Pakistan, and the time allowed by Pakistan expired.
  • India in the past has used the Chabahar port route to send shipments of wheat to Afghanistan.

India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan

  • The India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan held its first meeting in New Delhi on March 7, 2023.
  • The Special Envoys and Senior Officials of the Republics of India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan were at the conference.
  • The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) country representatives also attended the discussion, according to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • The Envoys discussed essential issues related to Afghanistan, including the country’s political, security and humanitarian situation.
  • The parties reaffirmed their support for an Afghanistan that is peaceful, secure, and stable while highlighting the importance of respecting its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity and refraining from meddling in its internal affairs.

India-Central Asia Summit 2022

  • India hosted the first India-Central Asia Summit in virtual format in January 2022.
  • It was attended by Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan.
  • This first India-Central Asia coincided with the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Central Asian countries.

Key Points

  • Institutionalisation of the Summit:
    • Discussed the next steps in taking India-Central Asia relations to new heights. In a historic decision, the Leaders agreed to institutionalise the Summit mechanism by deciding to hold it every 2 years.
    • They also agreed on regular meetings of Foreign Ministers, Trade Ministers, Culture Ministers and Secretaries of the Security Council to prepare the groundwork for the Summit meetings.
    • An India-Central Asia Secretariat in New Delhi would be set up to support the new mechanism.
  • India-Central Asia Cooperation:
  • The Leaders discussed far-reaching proposals to further cooperation in areas of trade and connectivity, development cooperation, defence and security and, in particular, on cultural and people to people contacts. These included:
    • Round-Table on Energy and Connectivity.
    • Joint Working Groups at senior official level on Afghanistan and use of Chabahar Port.
    • Showcasing of Buddhist exhibitions in Central Asian countries and commissioning of an India-Central Asia dictionary of common words.
    • Joint counter-terrorism exercises.
    • Visit of 100 member youth delegation annually from Central Asian countries to India and special courses for Central Asian diplomats.
  • A comprehensive Joint Declaration was adopted by the leaders that enumerates their common vision for an enduring and comprehensive India-Central Asia partnership.
  • Afghanistan:
  • The leaders reiterated their strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan with a truly representative and inclusive government.
  • India conveyed its continued commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
India sending 20000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar International Relations