NEW DELHI, — India will begin supplying wheat consignments to Afghanistan through Pakistan beginning in early February, reported Indian television station WION, citing India’s ministry of external affairs.

India is committed to supplying 50,000 tonnes of wheat and other humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the ministry said.

A spokesman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the transportation of wheat to Afghanistan, whose economy is collapsing under Taliban rule, is being facilitated on humanitarian grounds on an “exceptional basis.” The ministry said it is awaiting official word from India on the date of the first shipment.

Iran earlier this month announced an offer to transfer wheat and other aid from India to Afghanistan as well.

The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that more than half of Afghanistan’s 40 million people likely will face acute food shortages and nearly 10 million are already on the brink of starvation.