India's efforts for a toehold in the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan got a boost Tuesday with the government despatching the first of what will be many consignments of wheat to the country via Pakistan. Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla travelled to Amritsar to flag off, along with Afghan ambassador Farid Mamundzay, 50 trucks carrying 2500 MT of wheat aid to Afghanistan, reports The Times Of India. As first reported by ToI on October 19 last year, India proposes to send 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan through the land route with Pakistan. The exercise is expected to be completed over several weeks. The government said in a statement that supply will be effected by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and transported from Attari (India) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) by Afghan transporters. UN World Food Programme will handle the distribution. The wheat will be delivered in 50 kg jute bags. According to sources, each bag is stamped with text saying "gift from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan” in English, Pashto and Dari. Read: India and France review bilateral ties Shringla said the decision to transport wheat to Afghanistan was taken keeping in mind strong people-to-people contact with Afghanistan. India has been encouraged by the fact that the Taliban didn't just welcome the proposal but also sought early approval from Pakistan PM Imran Khan. "The shelf life of the wheat is minimum 1 year from the date of dispatch and necessary information would be clearly mentioned on bag. Fumigation of the consignment has been undertaken before handing over for transportation in order to cater for long passage time," said a source, adding the government is also getting the wheat quality tested by World Food Programme approved laboratory. Government's supply of wheat to Afghanistan at a critical juncture is expected to help India remain relevant in Afghanistan, if not act also as a template for cooperation in a region marred by conflict. "India remains committed to its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan. In this endeavour, India has already supplied 500,000 doses of COVAXIN, 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul," said the government in its announcement. Read: India: 38 get death in 2008 Gujarat serial blasts case "The shipment is part of the commitment made by the Government of India to supply 50,000 MT of wheat for the people of Afghanistan. The wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad, Afghanistan," it added.