This Article is From Aug 16, 2010

Pak still considering Indian aid offer for flood victims

Pak still considering Indian aid offer for flood victims
Islamabad: Pakistan today said it is considering India's offer of $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".

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.
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