- Title: PAKISTAN: Afghanistan's Karzai visits Pakistan to offer sympathy and support
- Date: 24th October 2005
- Summary: CLOSE OF CEREMONIAL GUARD
- Embargoed: 8th November 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- City:
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVAA4AJGXZ3H39IUN6Z9VA046EB
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai visited Pakistan on Monday (October 24) to convey his country's sympathy for the earthquake victims.
Talking to reporters after his meetings with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Karzai said he had personally travelled to the quake-stricken country to express his people's deep sense of sorrow and grief over the heavy loss of life and widespread devastation in Northern Pakistan.
"My brother, do count on us. In whatever way we can the Afghan nation will be there to give you assistance and help, what(ever) we could, as it is said in Persian: 'a green leaf: the gift of a pauper," he told Aziz. "Afghanistan shares in every way in the emotions and suffering with our brothers in Pakistan," he added. Aziz said Afghanistan had sent financial assistance, relief goods, helicopters and teams of doctors and other officials to help with the relief and rescue efforts.
Efforts to reach stranded settlements in Pakistan's northern mountains gathered pace on Monday after the country's friends and foes both urged help for up to 3 million survivors of the October 8 earthquake. Time and money are crucial if countless survivors, many still stranded in remote valleys and mountain villages 16 days after the quake, are to be helped before a harsh Himalayan winter sets in by late November, aid officials say.
The confirmed death toll in northern Pakistan has passed 53,000, with more than 75,000 seriously injured. Those figures are expected to rise substantially, with untold numbers lying buried in the rubble of an estimated 2,000 villages yet to be reached and aid officials fearing a second wave of deaths among the untended injured. A U.S. naval ship anchored at Karachi port on Monday with 140 tons of earthquake donations by the overseas Pakistanis.
The goods included blankets and non-perishable food items donated by Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates. It was the second relief trip of U.S. Naval ship 'Pearl Harbour' in a week. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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