WASHINGTON, Dec 18: Mohammad Yasin Malik, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) on Saturday commended the relief and rehabilitation work under way in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir for the earthquake affected people. Mr Malik praised the “missionary spirit” he witnessed in Pakistan, during his recent visit.

He was responding to a question at a discussion programme held at the Kashmir Centre, where he spoke on ‘Pakistan-India peace process: the role of Kashmiri leadership.’

The Kashmiri leader said he remained in the earthquake hit areas for seven days, visited the affected people and distributed relief among them. Besides areas in Azad Kashmir, he visited Balakot and Mansehra and noted, “relief has been extended to inaccessible areas through coordinated efforts.”

In his inaugural remarks, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, executive director of the Kashmiri American Council (KAC) thanked the American nation for its generous help for the Oct 8 disaster-hit people. Particularly, he said Pakistani-American community has been “a symbol of generosity and kindness.”

He informed the audience that 95,000 people had died, 65,000 injured, and over three million became refugees in their own area. As Kashmiris, he said: “What is heartening for us to note is that Yasin Malik, who was on a week-long visit of quake-hit areas said in a Comment: “I have seen the beauty of the nation of Pakistan,” likewise, Dr Fai said: “I have seen the beauty of the United States, which has been immensely generous in its help.”

“Any relief activity in Kashmir would have been impossible,” he said had not there been helicopters sent by the Pentagon. Rugged region of Mansehra, Balakot and others in NWFP, and Kashmir would not have been reached had there not been helicopter sorties available.”

The US helicopters completed over 200,000 missions, airlifted 5000 tons of relief consignments and transported 50,000 people.—APP