As Pakistan ups the ante on large-scale deportation of Afghan refugees, India has retaliated with offering humanitarian aid to thousands of displaced families, renewing its long-standing commitment to support the Afghan people in times of need.
The Taliban Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation recently affirmed that the Indian government provided crucial food aid to some 5,000 Afghan families forcibly displaced from Pakistan.
The 11 food items contained in the relief package were handed out by the Kabul office of the Directorate of Refugees, tending towards the most vulnerable families.
India's aid was formally acknowledged in a public announcement by Maulvi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban-designated Minister for Refugees and Repatriation. It was delivered by Zakirullah Zakir, Director of the Coordination Department in the Prime Minister's Office, and presented at a formal handover ceremony in Kabul.
Abdul Kabir expressed his gratitude to both the Government and the people of India for their constant support, calling on other countries and humanitarian organizations to scale up their assistance to displaced Afghans. "India's assistance has arrived at a time when our people are under severe distress," he said.
He also reassured the returnees, saying, "We welcome all returnees and assure them of their safety and dignity under the general amnesty declared in the country."
Kalim al-Rahman Fani, Deputy Minister of Finance and Administration, recognized the numerous challenges returnees are confronting, even with the efforts of the Islamic Emirate to offer housing and basic services. He also emphasized schemes for 58 new townships in 31 provinces to house the increasing number of returnees.
Since April, Pakistan has expelled hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants, citing concerns over national security and alleged connections between the Taliban and India—claims that remain unproven and have not been formally addressed by the Taliban.
In the midst of these regional tensions, India’s discreet but consistent humanitarian efforts stand in stark contrast to Islamabad’s crackdown, underscoring New Delhi’s people-centered approach to diplomacy in the region.
India has consistently maintained that its aid to Afghanistan is motivated by humanitarian principles and a commitment to regional stability. This latest relief operation signals New Delhi’s ongoing engagement with the Afghan populace, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations with the Taliban government.
