Afghan airline company Kam Air brought an aid package of health supplies provided by the Indian government into Kabul on Saturday. It was the first flown-in humanitarian aid from India since the fall of the former government.  

The aid consists of two tonnes of health supplies.  

The Ministry of Public Health welcomed the aid but said that further donations are needed in order to counter the current health crisis.  

“India donated some health products via the Word Health Organization to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. We praise it and call on other countries to provide assistance to Afghanistan,” said Javid Hajir, a spokesman for the ministry.  

India pledged to provide 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Afghanistan.  

The Islamic Emirate repeated their hope that foreign countries would not abandon the Afghans amid the current crisis.  

“The 20-year war affected Afghanistan. The country needs support in every aspect. The current situation in Afghanistan, including the economic problems, affects the people. In addition to other countries, India also understood the need to help the people of Afghanistan,” said Ahmadullah Wasiq, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.  

Analysts believe that India’s aid was politically motivated.  

“India's trying to fill the vacuum and gain influence in Afghanistan to not allow its rival Pakistan to remain the winner of the game in the field. I think India’s presence in Afghanistan has more political value than economic,” said Abdul Naseer Rishtia, an economist.  

Afghan citizens called on the world to remain supportive of fghanistan.  

“In such a condition, the international community should not abandon Afghanistan,” said Ainullah, a Kabul resident.  

This comes as Afghanistan is struggling with a severe economic crisis. As humanitarian organizations warn of a drastic humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, the world countries including Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia, Qatar and the European Union have provided aid to the country.