New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held a phone conversation with Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi following a powerful earthquake that struck the country’s northern region earlier in the day.
The 6.3-magnitude quake, which occurred at a depth of 28 kilometres near Mazar-i-Sharif, shook the provinces of Balkh, Samangan, and Baghlan. Afghan authorities reported that at least 20 people were killed and more than 500 injured, with rescue teams rushing victims to nearby hospitals.
Extending India’s condolences, Jaishankar said New Delhi stands with the people of Afghanistan during this difficult time. He confirmed that India has dispatched emergency relief materials, including food and essential supplies, and that additional shipments of medicines are being sent to assist the affected families.
“Spoke with FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan. Indian relief material for the earthquake-impacted communities is being handed over today, with more medical supplies to follow soon,” Jaishankar wrote on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also shared images of Indian aid being delivered in Afghanistan. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains committed to supporting the Afghan people through humanitarian assistance.
Beyond disaster relief, the two ministers discussed ongoing developments in bilateral relations following Muttaqi’s recent visit to India. Jaishankar noted the steady progress in people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
The quake is the latest in a series of devastating tremors to hit Afghanistan since 2021. In August, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in the eastern region claimed more than 2,200 lives and caused damage estimated at $183 million, according to the World Bank. Previous quakes in Herat and Nangarhar provinces in 2022 and 2023 also destroyed thousands of homes.
Located along the seismically active Hindu Kush range, Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes, which continue to inflict heavy human and infrastructural losses across the region.
