India on Thursday delivered 7.5 tonnes of life-saving cancer medicines to Afghanistan, reaffirming its sustained commitment to humanitarian assistance and healthcare support for the Afghan people amid continuing shortages of essential medical supplies.
The consignment was sent to Kabul as part of India’s ongoing efforts to support partner nations during times of crisis. Confirming the development, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had delivered the medicines to address the urgent needs of cancer patients in Afghanistan. He underlined that New Delhi remains committed to standing with the “friendly people of Afghanistan” and extending help where it is most needed.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system has been under severe strain due to years of conflict, economic challenges, and supply disruptions, leading to critical shortages of medicines and medical equipment. Cancer treatment has been particularly affected, with many patients struggling to access essential drugs. The latest shipment is expected to provide relief to hospitals and patients grappling with limited treatment options.
The delivery of cancer medicines is part of a broader humanitarian and health-focused engagement between India and Afghanistan that has continued despite political and logistical challenges. India has consistently positioned itself as a reliable partner in addressing Afghanistan’s public health needs, focusing on both emergency assistance and long-term capacity building.
In December 2025, Afghan Public Health Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali held discussions with India’s Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, on the sidelines of the World Health Organization’s Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. The talks explored potential collaboration in traditional systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Unani, and Homoeopathy. Both sides discussed cooperation in areas such as education, research, regulatory frameworks, and the integration of traditional medicine into healthcare delivery systems.
Around the same time, Union Health Minister JP Nadda also met Minister Jalali to reiterate India’s long-term humanitarian commitment to Afghanistan. These high-level engagements highlighted New Delhi’s intent to support not just immediate medical needs but also broader healthcare development in the country. The symbolic handover of cancer medicines and vaccines during these interactions reflected India’s pledge to assist Afghanistan in meeting pressing public health challenges.
This is not the first time India has extended medical aid to Afghanistan in recent months. In November 2025, India sent a massive consignment of 73 tonnes of life-saving medicines, vaccines, and essential nutritional supplements to Kabul. That shipment was aimed at supporting routine immunisation programmes and addressing shortages of critical drugs across Afghan healthcare facilities.
India’s humanitarian assistance has also extended to disaster relief. In October 2025, following a series of powerful earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan, India swiftly provided emergency relief. The earthquakes, including a major 6.3-magnitude tremor and several aftershocks measuring between 4 and 5 on the Richter scale, claimed more than 800 lives and injured over 2,800 people. The seismic activity affected large parts of eastern Afghanistan and was felt in neighbouring regions, including parts of Pakistan. In response, India sent relief materials to help affected communities cope with the aftermath of the disaster.
Through consistent medical aid, disaster relief, and healthcare cooperation, India aims to strengthen Afghanistan’s fragile healthcare infrastructure and ensure access to critical treatment for vulnerable populations. The latest shipment of cancer medicines underscores India’s humanitarian approach and its commitment to supporting the Afghan people through sustained, needs-based assistance, even in challenging circumstances.
About the Author
