PUSAN (South Korea), Nov 17: US President George W. Bush promised President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday that he would work to rally international aid following last month’s earthquake, the White House said. President Musharraf telephoned President Bush, who was here for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, to ask for help in building ‘international momentum’ ahead of a November 19 donors conference, said Mike Green, the senior director for Asia of the US National Security Council.
President Musharraf gave his US counterpart a summary of the situation in Pakistan following the October 8 quake.
President Musharraf has said Pakistan needs $5.2 billion to recover.
President Bush ‘promised he would look at ways to help’ and would instruct US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to come up with detailed plans to do so, Mr Green told journalists.
Sources in the Pakistani foreign ministry and President’s House in Islamabad said that both leaders also discussed matters of bilateral interests and regional and international issues.
President Bush expressed heartfelt sympathies with the affected people and said that the US would not leave Pakistan at this critical juncture.
The US would provide more assistance to Pakistan, he said.
He lauded the opening of points along the Line of Control, saying it would further improve relations between Pakistan and India and differences between them could be sorted out.
President Musharraf thanked his US counterpart for his kind gesture to the people of Pakistan and said the US support for the affected people would further enhance relations between the two countries.
He informed the US president about preparations for the donors’ conference and said that the response of the entire world was encouraging.
He said that Pakistan and the USA would continue cooperation to wipe out terrorism of any kind. —Agencies
