On September 2, 2025, India delivered 21 tonnes of humanitarian relief to Kabul in response to the powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan over the weekend, claiming over 1,400 lives and injuring more than 2,500 people (The Times of India, The Siasat Daily).
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the consignment had arrived by air and highlighted the urgent nature of the mission. The shipment included essential items such as blankets, tents, hygiene kits, water tanks, generators, kitchen utensils, portable water purifiers, sleeping bags, essential medications, wheelchairs, hand sanitizers, water purification tablets, ORS solutions, and medical consumables (The Siasat Daily, The Economic Times).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s resolve to provide all necessary humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Jaishankar added that India will continue monitoring the evolving situation and send additional relief as needed (India Today, Insights IAS).
Context & International Aid Scope
- The quake struck remote mountainous areas near Kunar province—flattening homes, triggering landslides, and complicating rescue efforts due to limited infrastructure and terrain challenges (The Wall Street Journal, Reuters).
- While India dispatched 21 tonnes of aid via airlift, the European Union pledged €1 million (~130 tonnes) in supplies, and the UK contributed £1.35 million, distributing support through humanitarian channels (People.com, Wikipedia).
- Nepalese Sikhs, in conjunction with their diaspora, also mobilized and dispatched aid from the historic Jalalabad Gurdwara, reinforcing community-level humanitarian efforts (The Times of India).
India’s Role in Regional Humanitarian Diplomacy
This aid mission aligns with India’s established framework of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), reflecting its status as a regional first responder. India has frequently provided aid during crises—from past earthquakes in Afghanistan (June 2022) to floods and COVID-19 assistance—underscoring its commitment to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“The world is one family”) (Wikipedia, Insights IAS).
