India has said it is willing to stand by the Afghan people in their hour of crisis but called for unimpeded access to aid providers in Afghanistan in order to enable "non-discriminatory" distribution of relief supplies across all sections of society.

In a virtual address on Monday at the UN high-level meeting on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the issue of travel and safe passage that can emerge as an obstacle to humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan should be immediately sorted out.

Jaishankar’s comments come amid fears worldwide on whether relief material such as food and medicines will reach the those who need it most under the Taliban regime which has swept into power through the use of force. 

He said India's approach to Afghanistan has always been guided by its historical friendship with the Afghan people and it will continue to be the case.

"Among the challenges that the current situation poses is that of efficient logistics. It is therefore essential that humanitarian assistance providers are accorded unimpeded, unrestricted and direct access to Afghanistan," Mr Jaishankar said.

The External Affairs Minister said once relief materials reach that country, the world will naturally expect a "non-discriminatory distribution of humanitarian assistance across all sections of Afghan society".

"Only the United Nations has the capacity to monitor such endeavours and reassure donors. As the picture becomes clear in respect of the legitimate concerns I am confident that the world will step forward and assist the Afghan people in their hour of need," he said.

"Afghanistan is passing through a critical and challenging phase. There has been a sea change in its political, economic, social and security situation, and consequently, in its humanitarian needs," he said.

Mr Jaishankar said India has consistently supported a central role of the UN in the future of the country, as a multilateral platform is always more effective than small groups in building global consensus and encouraging united action.

In his comments, he also said the UN Security Council resolution 2593 should guide the international community's approach in the coming days in Afghanistan.

The UNSC resolution, adopted on August 30 under India's presidency of the global body, demanded that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter and train terrorists and plan or finance terrorist attacks.

Mr Jaishankar also listed India's contribution to the humanitarian requirements of Afghan society in the past.

"This included providing more than one million metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan over the past decade. Last year too we have assisted Afghanistan with 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat," he said.

The minister said India has also partnered World Food Programme for the distribution of high protein biscuits over several years and that the innovative scheme particularly supported vulnerable school going children of Afghanistan.

He said the friendship is reflected in Indian development projects that today exist in all the 34 provinces. India has invested more than US dollar 3 billion for the welfare of the people of Afghanistan, he added.

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