India has delivered a consignment of ambulances to Afghanistan, fulfilling an earlier commitment made during high-level talks in New Delhi. The delivery follows an announcement in October, when India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in the Indian capital Delhi. During the meeting, Mr Jaishankar described the gift as a "gesture of goodwill". "A gift of 20 ambulances is a gesture of goodwill, and I would like to handover 5 of them to you personally as a symbolic step," Mr Jaishankar said at the time. "India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunisation and cancer medicines. We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are open to doing more."The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul. India has also pledged to build a 30-bed hospital in Kabul's Bagrami district, an Oncology Centre, a Trauma Centre in the capital, and five Maternity Health Clinics in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, and Paktia.Around 75 prosthetic limbs have been fitted to Afghan nationals, a programme that has received appreciation from Afghan authorities. Earlier this month, Afghan Public Health Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali visited India, where he held talks with his Indian counterpart. Discussions focused on long-term medicine supplies, capacity-building, and infrastructure support. A symbolic handover of cancer medicines and vaccines occurred, with larger consignments, including a 128-slice CT scanner, set to follow.India continues to provide medical visas for Afghans for treatment in Indian hospitals. Speaking to WION, the health minister said, "Afghans have been regularly travelling to India for medical treatment for a long time. Medical visas have been a vital humanitarian channel." The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan administration has been focusing on tertiary healthcare projects, including specialised hospitals, diagnostic centres, and cancer treatment facilities. Both countries discussed forming a Joint Working Group on Health, establishing cancer treatment facilities in Afghanistan, and sending Indian medical teams for capacity-building programmes for Afghan doctors.<h2>Reducing reliance on Pakistan</h2>The latest delivery reinforces New Delhi's commitment to Afghanistan's welfare. Development comes as Afghanistan is trying to reduce reliance on neighbouring Pakistan, after the country attacked Kabul, border areas killing civilians, including children, women and cricketers. In November 2025, the Afghan government announced a complete ban on importing pharmaceutical products from Pakistan, citing poor quality. A three-month transition period was given for importers to settle debts with Pakistani suppliers and shift to alternative sources.

The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul.

India has delivered a consignment of ambulances to Afghanistan, fulfilling an earlier commitment made during high-level talks in New Delhi. The delivery follows an announcement in October, when India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in the Indian capital Delhi. During the meeting, Mr Jaishankar described the gift as a "gesture of goodwill". "A gift of 20 ambulances is a gesture of goodwill, and I would like to handover 5 of them to you personally as a symbolic step," Mr Jaishankar said at the time. "India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunisation and cancer medicines. We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are open to doing more." The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul. India has also pledged to build a 30-bed hospital in Kabul's Bagrami district, an Oncology Centre, a Trauma Centre in the capital, and five Maternity Health Clinics in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, and Paktia. Around 75 prosthetic limbs have been fitted to Afghan nationals, a programme that has received appreciation from Afghan authorities. Earlier this month, Afghan Public Health Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali visited India, where he held talks with his Indian counterpart. Discussions focused on long-term medicine supplies, capacity-building, and infrastructure support. A symbolic handover of cancer medicines and vaccines occurred, with larger consignments, including a 128-slice CT scanner, set to follow. India continues to provide medical visas for Afghans for treatment in Indian hospitals. Speaking to WION, the health minister said, "Afghans have been regularly travelling to India for medical treatment for a long time. Medical visas have been a vital humanitarian channel." The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan administration has been focusing on tertiary healthcare projects, including specialised hospitals, diagnostic centres, and cancer treatment facilities. Both countries discussed forming a Joint Working Group on Health, establishing cancer treatment facilities in Afghanistan, and sending Indian medical teams for capacity-building programmes for Afghan doctors. Reducing reliance on Pakistan The latest delivery reinforces New Delhi's commitment to Afghanistan's welfare. Development comes as Afghanistan is trying to reduce reliance on neighbouring Pakistan, after the country attacked Kabul, border areas killing civilians, including children, women and cricketers. In November 2025, the Afghan government announced a complete ban on importing pharmaceutical products from Pakistan, citing poor quality. A three-month transition period was given for importers to settle debts with Pakistani suppliers and shift to alternative sources.

The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul.

India delivers ambulances to Afghanistan as health care cooperation grows

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said on Saturday that he merely carries out the “vision” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likening his own role to that of Lord Hanuman, who served Lord Ram and carried out his mission. Jaishankar, known for his sharp and apt replies, was replying to a question at an event in Pune, Maharashtra, when asked if only “one Jaishankar” is enough for India. Instead of answering straight away, the external affairs minister ‘corrected’ the question itself, saying, “Your question was a wrong question. You should have asked me: there is one Modi. Because ultimately, Shri Hanuman finally serves (Lord Ram)... So bear it in mind.”&nbsp;“Countries are defined by leaders and vision. There are people who execute it. But ultimately, today it is the vision, the leadership, and the confidence, that is what makes the difference,” he added to huge applause from the gathering.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Pune, Maharashtra: When asked if one Jaishankar is enough for the country, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, &quot;Your question is wrong. You should have asked me: there is one Modi. Because ultimately, shri Hanuman finally serves... Countries are defined by leaders and vision.… <a href="https://t.co/qtIKI8pEUt">pic.twitter.com/qtIKI8pEUt</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2002344489755816161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/trinamool-shielding-illegal-immigrants-time-to-end-maha-jungle-raj-in-bengal-pm-modi-1766239038996">Trinamool shielding illegal immigrants, time to end ‘maha jungle raj’ in Bengal: PM Modi</a>&nbsp;Jaishankar, who served as India’s foreign secretary from January 2015 to 2018, has been the country’s external affairs minister since May 2019, after PM Narendra Modi won a second consecutive term in power.&nbsp;The BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member was attending the 22nd convocation of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Pune.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/osman-hadi-buried-next-to-kazi-nazrul-islam-un-calls-for-protection-of-electoral-freedom-ahead-of-bangladesh-polls-1766233589079">Osman Hadi buried next to Kazi Nazrul Islam; UN calls for protection of electoral freedom ahead of Bangladesh polls</a>&nbsp;He told the graduating students, “The old stereotypes about India are steadily being put behind. But this evolution in our image is an undeniable reality. Hard figures vouch for this transformation. Among them, the growing number of global capability centres in India, the increasing demand for Indian talent and skills abroad, and the individual successes of people. And this extends equally to us as a collective. Perhaps more than others, India is today defined by its talent and by its skill. All that has helped to shape our national brand.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-s-ex-pm-imran-khan-wife-bushra-bibi-sentenced-to-17-years-in-toshakhana-case-after-trial-in-adiala-jail-1766229127874">Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi sentenced to 17 years in Toshakhana case after trial in Adiala Jail</a><h2>EAM calls for doubling down on Make in India initiative</h2>&nbsp;Jaishankar also called for “doubling down” on the Make in India initiative so that Indian products can make a mark beyond the country’s shores.&nbsp;“Add to that design in India, research in India, innovate in India, or deliver from India, and the same holds true for services as well. We have to upgrade our infrastructure, develop our human resources, and adopt and pursue the right policies. But more importantly, it requires vision, it requires leadership, and it requires execution, all of which we fortunately have today,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-yunus-trying-to-bring-islamists-to-power-via-rigged-poll-threat-to-india-is-real-hasina-s-son-sajeeb-wazed-1766140132399">‘Yunus trying to bring Islamists to power via rigged poll, threat to India is real’: Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed</a>

Countries are defined by leaders and vision. There are people who execute it. But ultimately, today it is the vision, the leadership, and the confidence, that is what makes the difference, said External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to huge applause from the gathering.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said on Saturday that he merely carries out the “vision” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likening his own role to that of Lord Hanuman, who served Lord Ram and carried out his mission. Jaishankar, known for his sharp and apt replies, was replying to a question at an event in Pune, Maharashtra, when asked if only “one Jaishankar” is enough for India. Instead of answering straight away, the external affairs minister ‘corrected’ the question itself, saying, “Your question was a wrong question. You should have asked me: there is one Modi. Because ultimately, Shri Hanuman finally serves (Lord Ram)... So bear it in mind.” “Countries are defined by leaders and vision. There are people who execute it. But ultimately, today it is the vision, the leadership, and the confidence, that is what makes the difference,” he added to huge applause from the gathering.

Countries are defined by leaders and vision. There are people who execute it. But ultimately, today it is the vision, the leadership, and the confidence, that is what makes the difference, said External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to huge applause from the gathering.

‘After all, Shri Hanuman finally serves…,’ replies EAM when asked if India needs more than one Jaishankar? WATCH

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India delivers ambulances to Afghanistan as health care cooperation grows

‘Shri Hanuman finally serves…,’ Jaishankar gets huge applause for reply. WATCH