Pak still considering Indian aid offer for flood victims

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Aug 16 (PTI) Pakistan on Monday said it is
considering India's offer of USD five million as aid for its
flood victims but a decision has been delayed as there is
"sensitivity" involved in the relationship with India.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his Indian
counterpart S M Krishna offered the aid during a telephone
conversation on Friday.
"Yes, they have offered assistance to Pakistan and
they have asked the government of Pakistan to prioritise what
kind of assistance we require," he said.
"In line with the conversation that I've had with Mr
Krishna, I've informed the leadership about the details and
the leadership is giving it consideration," he told a news
conference at the Foreign Office.
Qureshi was responding to a question on whether
Pakistan had accepted the aid offered by India.
In response to another question on why Pakistan has
accepted aid from other countries but is yet to decide on
India's offer, he said the kind of relationship with India and
the "sensitivity" involved is "different".
Qureshi kept the door open for the possibility of
accepting the Indian offer at a later stage.
Noting that "the matter has not ended," he said
Pakistan will need a long-drawn strategy as the floods were
still causing devastation.
After the ongoing relief operations, the
rehabilitation and reconstruction process will continue for
about two years, he said.
Qureshi said Krishna had called him to "condole on the
loss of life that had taken place, to sympathise with the
people of Pakistan and express solidarity in this hour of
grief with Pakistan".
Earlier, diplomatic sources told PTI that "no
decision" had been made as yet on India's offer of aid.
Asked about the matter, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul
Basit said, "We appreciate this offer made by India. It has
been conveyed to the relevant authorities".
He did not give details.
Krishna described the offer of aid as a "gesture of
solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of need".
The floods triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains
have killed over 1,700 people and affected 20 million. It has
also destroyed millions of acres of crop land and washed away
key roads, bridges and communication infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Daily Times newspaper quoted its
sources as saying that Pakistan might accept the Indian aid if
it is routed through the United Nations.
Pakistan had accepted aid from India when a
devastating earthquake struck the Kashmir region in 2005.
India had then sent three consignments of relief
materials in military aircraft. PTI RHL
RBT


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