ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday dispatched 105 tonnes of humanitarian aid for earthquake-hit Afghanistan. The consignment was sent after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
According to Taliban authorities, the powerful earthquake killed 1,469 people and injured more than 3,700. Most casualties were reported from Kunar province, while Nangarhar and Laghman provinces also suffered heavy damage.
The Pakistani aid includes food items, medicines, tents, blankets, and bubble mats. The relief supplies were sent through the Torkham border via five trucks carrying 40-foot containers. The departure ceremony was held at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warehouse in Islamabad.
Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kheal Das Kohistani attended the ceremony along with officials from NDMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ishaq Dar expressed condolences to the Afghan people, saying Pakistan stands in solidarity with Afghanistan during this difficult time.
Rescue operations in Afghanistan remain challenging. Aftershocks, landslides, and blocked roads have made it hard to reach remote villages. Survivors are staying outdoors due to fear of collapsing homes. Aid groups like Save the Children and the World Food Programme (WFP) are struggling to deliver assistance to affected families.
WFP warned that food stocks for quake survivors could run out in four weeks without urgent global funding. The agency highlighted that Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs remain high due to poverty, conflict, and reduced international aid.
Afghan commandos were also airdropped into quake-hit areas to rescue trapped survivors. Local residents in Jalalabad and nearby cities are donating blankets, food, and money for victims.
Despite limited resources, Pakistan and international aid groups continue to provide relief. However, urgent funding and global support are crucial to help thousands of Afghan families rebuild their lives after one of the deadliest earthquakes in decades.
