WASHINGTON, Aug 21: Pakistan’s costly campaigns, both in blood and treasure, have cornered extremists groups, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said as it expected world support for the country’s recovery from catastrophic floods.“The overwhelming majority of the people of Pakistan are against those militant groups. They have been cornered. We have been fighting them. We have had successful operations against them,” he told Public Broadcasting Service.Qureshi was dispelling the notion that political perceptions vis-a-vis some militant groups’ operating on Pakistani soil might have made some people reluctant to contribute immediately to relief aid, which got a boost at the United Nations this week.
“We are a major ally of the United States and the free world in defeating extremism and terrorism. And we have paid a price, a human price, economic price. I think the world should stand by its ally in this hour of need,” the top Pakistani diplomat said in reference to Pakistan’s pushback against the Taliban, who operated in Swat, South Waziristan and some other tribal areas along the Afghan border.
The foreign minister, who attended a special UN General Assembly meeting in New York, spoke as the international community ramped up its humanitarian assistance for Pakistan after a slow initial response to the still unfolding calamity.
The natural disaster - nearing almost a month - that has claimed around 1600 lives and afflicted 20 million people over 150,000 sq km of Pakistani terrioty.
“The scale is huge --- over 20 million people have been affected. Millions have been displaced. Over a million houses are damaged--- physical infrastructure like roads, bridges have been sort of battered very badly by this unprecedented flood that we have had.The issues of waterborne disease are sort of a big challenge that we are confronted with,” he said in the channel’s program News Hour.
Qureshi noted “initial response was slow, because the world wasn’t aware of the magnitude of the challenge. But now I think it is filtering in, it is pouring in.”
Answering the U.N. call for $460 million in Pakistan relief aid, the outpouring of world support for Pakistan saw the pledges surpass $ 800 million. But Qureshi reminded that this immediate help is just a beginning of the long and expensive rebuilding phase Pakistan will undertake once the floods recede.
“That’s only the beginning. We have to look at the recovery and the rehabilitation, reconstruction costs as well.”
In reply to a question, the foreign minister said China has been giving Pakistan relief goods as well as financial assistance during the largest humanitarian crisis to hit the region in recent history.
“They have provided us financial assistance as well. I believe they are announcing some more today. They have also taken on responsibility of some population up in the north Gilgit, Pakistan, area that had become inaccessible because of the loss of bridges on the way. So, there was no road connection left for that area. And the only way you could access them was through the Chinese border. And they have taken responsibility for about 27,000 people in that area.”
Regarding Indian offer of $ 5 million relief assistance, the foreign minister appreciated New Delhi’s gesture and noted the two countries have been helping each other in dealing with natural disastrs.
“We have been helping each other in the past. India has helped Pakistan during the 2005 earthquake. We responded to them when they had natural disasters. So, there is a precedent, and we are neighbors. So, this was a very welcome gesture on their part. And we in Pakistan appreciate this gesture.”
The foreign minister, who attended a special UN General Assembly meeting in New York, spoke as the international community ramped up its humanitarian assistance for Pakistan after a slow initial response to the still unfolding calamity.
The natural disaster - nearing almost a month - that has claimed around 1600 lives and afflicted 20 million people over 150,000 sq km of Pakistani terrioty.
“The scale is huge --- over 20 million people have been affected. Millions have been displaced. Over a million houses are damaged--- physical infrastructure like roads, bridges have been sort of battered very badly by this unprecedented flood that we have had.The issues of waterborne disease are sort of a big challenge that we are confronted with,” he said in the channel’s program News Hour.
Qureshi noted “initial response was slow, because the world wasn’t aware of the magnitude of the challenge. But now I think it is filtering in, it is pouring in.”
Answering the U.N. call for $460 million in Pakistan relief aid, the outpouring of world support for Pakistan saw the pledges surpass $ 800 million. But Qureshi reminded that this immediate help is just a beginning of the long and expensive rebuilding phase Pakistan will undertake once the floods recede.
“That’s only the beginning. We have to look at the recovery and the rehabilitation, reconstruction costs as well.”
In reply to a question, the foreign minister said China has been giving Pakistan relief goods as well as financial assistance during the largest humanitarian crisis to hit the region in recent history.
“They have provided us financial assistance as well. I believe they are announcing some more today. They have also taken on responsibility of some population up in the north Gilgit, Pakistan, area that had become inaccessible because of the loss of bridges on the way. So, there was no road connection left for that area. And the only way you could access them was through the Chinese border. And they have taken responsibility for about 27,000 people in that area.”
Regarding Indian offer of $ 5 million relief assistance, the foreign minister appreciated New Delhi’s gesture and noted the two countries have been helping each other in dealing with natural disastrs.
“We have been helping each other in the past. India has helped Pakistan during the 2005 earthquake. We responded to them when they had natural disasters. So, there is a precedent, and we are neighbors. So, this was a very welcome gesture on their part. And we in Pakistan appreciate this gesture.”
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