ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): Pakistan Monday appreciated world response to relief efforts in the aftermath of October 8 quake and hoped the international community would sustain the spirit in an equally difficult phase of reconstruction. "The world response has been good and we are grateful for that but do hope that it (response) will continue in the next phase - reconstruction," foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam told a weekly briefing. She described the reconstruction phase as "equally difficult and equally challenging".
Responding to a question, Ms. Aslam said the United Nations had been putting up Pakistan's case very strongly before the international donors community. She recalled the statement by the UN Under Secretary General, Jan Egeland, at a recent conference in Geneva in which he described Pakistan quake as worst than December 26 Tsunami. The spokesperson also referred to the immediate world response after the calamity struck as medical teams from many countries were on the ground within two or three days. The international community also contributed helicopters and Saudi Arabia and NATO established air-bridges to ensure continuing supply of relief goods, she added.
Ms. Aslam said Pakistani leadership was talking to world leaders and many dignitaries also visited Pakistan and went back with a more clear perspective of the destruction caused by the quake that has so far claimed over 53,000 lives. At the October 26 UN-sponsored international conference in Geneva, Pakistan would talk about the extent of fatalities and damage to the infrastructure and what needed to be done immediately. Giving an update on opening of Line of Control (LoC) for Kashmiris, the spokesperson said Pakistan formally handed over the proposal to India after a statement by President General Pervez Musharraf on October 18.
President Musharraf had broadly talked about allowing Kashmiris, two-way movement across the LoC to share each other's sorrows and help in reconstruction efforts in the wake of the disaster. "We are awaiting Indian response...We are ready to discuss the modalities as soon as possible," the spokesperson said. Ms. Aslam informed that Pakistan had already invited Indian official delegation to Islamabad. "It is our hope that we will be able to implement this (proposal) within this month," she added. Responding to a question, the spokesperson said as evident from the statement by an Indian foreign office spokesman, New Delhi's proposal of setting up medical facilities at three points along the LoC was not linked to Pakistan's proposal.
"We have proposed points for Kashmiri people to travel, meet each other and help," she said while adding, Pakistan would be responding to the Indian proposal later in the day. The spokesperson rejected as baseless, reports in the Indian media claiming "slow response" of Pakistan army in first two days because it was "busy mobilizing troops along LoC". "We dismiss these reports as baseless and malicious speculations," she added. The spokesperson said Pakistan army and the people responded to the tragedy immediately and in an exemplary manner.
She said Pakistan army immediately launched the rescue operation in the quake-hit areas marked by difficult terrain and the entire efforts were geared towards saving peoples' life and providing them food and shelter. In many inaccessible areas, due to land-sliding, mules were being used to deliver goods, she said and added, the tragedy was unprecedented and response by the Pakistan army was equally unparalleled. The spokesperson, responding to a question, said there was an urgent need to help the divided families living on both sides of the LoC to enable them meet and help each other. However, the President's proposal was for all Kashmiris, she added.
To a question, she said, relief efforts in the affected areas were continuing and the whole international community was mobilized. However, she added, there were problems in areas such as Neelum valley and up Naran which remained inaccessible by land routes owing to the difficult terrain. She said, Pakistan army was delivering food and other relief goods in these difficult areas using mules. "These are very very difficult problems, problems which are beyond any one's control" she added. Replying to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan had not received any relief goods from Israel. She confirmed that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will take a day-long trip to Moscow to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
This reflected the importance, Pakistan attached to the SCO process, she said and added, the visit will also provide an opportunity to Prime Minister Aziz to meet various leaders. To a question, Ms.Aslam said Pakistan did not approach NATO for any assistance but accepted their offer of assistance. She said Pakistan indicated its requirement in response to the offer that include help in reconstruction of roads and bridges.