India has dispatched food supplies to families affected by the powerful earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared images of the relief consignment, noting that India remained committed to supporting the Afghan people.
“Reaffirming its support to the Afghan people, India delivers food items for the families affected by the earthquake. India first responder,” Jaiswal said in a post on X.
The assistance followed a call by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, during which he conveyed condolences over the loss of life caused by the 6.3-magnitude quake that hit Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces in the early hours of Monday.
Jaishankar said Indian relief material was already being distributed and that essential medicines would be delivered soon. “Called FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan this afternoon to convey condolences at the loss of lives... Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further supplies of medicines to reach soon,” he posted.
Also read: Afghanistan hit by 6.3 quake, rescue ops underway
According to the National Centre for Seismology, the tremor struck near Mazar-i-Sharif around 2 am IST, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 300. Images circulating in news reports showed damage to the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Jaishankar said the two sides had also reviewed progress in bilateral relations since Muttaqi’s previous visit and discussed developments in the wider region.
The latest disaster adds to the strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile administrative and humanitarian structures under Taliban rule. A series of severe earthquakes since 2021, combined with shrinking international aid, has left relief mechanisms overstretched. A quake in the east of the country two months ago killed more than 2,000 people, according to news reports.
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