The Pakistani government agreed on an “exceptional basis” to allow the overland transportation of humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Pakistan has allowed the transportation of 50,000 tonnes of wheat and life-saving medicines from the Attari-Wagah border with India in eastern Pakistan to the Pakistan-Afghanistan Torkham border, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the first batch of 41 Afghan trucks, which entered into Pakistan through Torkham, is returning to Afghanistan on Wednesday after loading the Indian wheat consignment at Attari-Wagah.

It added that Pakistan has been closely coordinating with all sides to facilitate the smooth transit of humanitarian aid.

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Relations between Pakistan and India deteriorated after India lifted the special status for the Indian-controlled Kashmir in August 2019.

Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations, suspended trade relations and train service with India in response.