NATO teams here on Pak govt's call: Spanish Envoy
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Ambassador of Spain to Pakistan Jose Maria Robles Fraga has said that NATO forces had moved to Pakistan on appeal of Pakistani government for three months to participate in the relief activities in quake-hit areas.
"Our aim is to provide relief to earthquake victims and we have no other option than this and reservations of political wings in Pakistan will be removed after the NATO forces are engaged in relief activities," he said while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. He said that political wings had concern regarding the arrival of NATO forces in Pakistan and these forces were in Pakistan just to give relief to the quake victims who were facing the worst situation after the earthquake.
He said that NATO forces included military engineers and doctors who had capabilities to tackle the worst tragedy and would be helpful accelerating the relief activities and assisting the affected families.
He said that these forces would provide the shelters to the homeless people, open the road links, and ensure the provision of safe drinking water and improvement of the sanitation system.
"The sooner we start the relief operations and expedite the relief activities, the better is for the affected people as the winter season was in offing and the situation will become worst if the necessary action was not taken in time," he said.
He said that the component of NATO forces comprised the countries like USA, UK, Poland, France, Holand and other NATO members countries and these were the donor countries that teams were already working in the quake-hit areas.
He said that NATO forces were taking part in the relief operations in quake-hit areas of Pakistan for the first time and these forces would take all possible measures to ensure the relief for the quake victims.
He said that the first elements of the NATO field medical team which moved Sunday to the Bagh area is now setting up a hospital in the earthquake stricken and the field hospital would be set up in a week to provide the medical care to the affected people. He further said that the Spanish-led battalion of NATO engineers would move the quake-hit areas by land route on Wednesday (today) and help restore the road links that would prove helpful to expedite the relief activities in the areas.
Replying to a question, he said that the number of NATO forces might be increased and the helicopters would be sent for relief operations in the quake-hit areas on the request of government of Pakistan.