Rice promises more US financial, technical aid
By Our Special Correspondent
ISLAMABAD—Expressing heartfelt condolences on behalf of her government
and American people over the loss of lives and damages by the earthquake
that rocked parts of Pakistan, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice in
her meeting with President and Prime Minister assured her government
would extend all out financial and technical support to Pakistan at this
critical hour.
In her separate meetings here Wednesday with President General Pervez
Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, US secretary of state has
reiterated that she, her government and the people of her country had
been shocked to know about the earthquake, which claimed thousands of
lives.
In her meeting with Musharraf, Rice conveyed President Bush’s message to
the President of Pakistan saying that the US President would extend
every kind of assistance to Pakistan.
Soon after listening about the tragic earthquake that jolted parts of
AJK, NA and NWFP, she said the US government forthwith dispatched
helicopters and other relief materials to evacuate people trapped under
the rubble.
Expressing grief over the quake catastrophe and thanking US government’s
support at this critical juncture, President Musharraf informed his
guest that the government of Pakistan has initiated a gigantic and
stringent rescue operation to rehabilitate the quake affectees on
emergency basis. The Pakistan army in active participation of civilian
organizations was busy carrying out relief operations in parts of
affected areas.
“We are also thankful of world community of its quick response,”
Musharraf underscored.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his meeting with Rice thanked the US
government support saying that Pakistan wanted technical assistance
instead of financial aid and “we will hail other countries assistance as
well in this connection”.
Ms Rice held out her assurance to the premier that US being a strategic
partner of Pakistan will play a proactive role in rescue efforts and
later in rehabilitation of earthquake victims. The US Secretary of State
Condoleeza Rice Wednesday conveyed deep shock and grief of the US
government to Pakistani leaders over the tragic loss of life and
property caused by the devastating earthquake. The US Secretary of State
who flew here on a brief visit called on President General Pervez
Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. She assured full cooperation
and assistance by the US government to Pakistan in the relief and
rehabilitation efforts.
Agencies add: The US military is stepping up humanitarian aid to
quake-hit Pakistan as the extent of the calamity unfolds, with relief
workers, braving inclement weather, making their way to the inaccessible
parts of the country. President George W. Bush has offered an initial
$50 million in US emergency aid to Pakistan, a close American ally in
the global war on terrorism. US military officials said that American
military aircraft based in Afghanistan have provided more than 100,000
pounds of relief supplies in two days of missions. Eight Army helicopter
crews deployed from Germany and at least two Air Force C-17 transport
planes have been ferrying food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram
Air Base to a Pakistani military airfield since Monday. Five CH-47
Chinooks and three UH-60 Black Hawks are flying the humanitarian
missions, officials have said.
In total, the United States expects to send at least 25 to 30
helicopters to Pakistan to assist with earthquake relief efforts,
Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita said in Washington. At least one US
military Chinook helicopter was unable to reach the quake zone because
of a rainstorm. “We had a storm blow into the area on some of the
mountain passes that you have to go through to get into the remote area,
and they had to come back and land due to the weather”, US military
spokesman Col. James Yonts said. Other C-17s with more support and
equipment were scheduled to arrive today. DiRita said some of the
additional helicopters would come from Afghanistan and Bahrain, but
military officials said the earthquake recovery efforts would have no
impact on current combat operations. US military officials are
“identifying and will deploy additional capabilities to assist the State
Department and affected countries, including helicopters, engineering
and heavy lift capabilities, medical support and humanitarian
assistance,” the Pentagon said. “Our total focus is on relieving the
suffering in Pakistan, help them stabilize and, in the longer term,
recover”, said Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, Combined Forces
Command-Afghanistan commander. Eikenberry had been sent to Islamabad to
coordinate the beginning of the relief efforts. He has since returned to
Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday. Upon Eikenberry’s return, the
Pentagon announced Navy Rear Adm. Michael Lefever as the head of a
“humanitarian coordination center” in Pakistan. Lefever is tasked with
coordinating between the Pakistani government, the Pentagon, the State
Department, and other US agencies providing aid. The United States was
also using reconnaissance aircraft, including unmanned drones, to survey
damage from the quake, Di Rita said in Washington. The Pentagon named
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michael Lefever to head a disaster-assistance
center in Islamabad and coordinate military relief efforts. Lt. Gen.
Karl Eikenberry, commander of US forces in neighboring Afghanistan,
visited Islamabad to oversee the initial U.S. military-assistance
response but was returning to Kabul to resume his responsibilities in
Afghanistan, US Central Command said. |
