ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: Pakistan has ruled out a joint relief operation with India in Kashmir as proposed by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. “This would be tantamount to rubbing salt into the wounds of the people of Kashmir” Chief Relief Commissioner Maj-Gen Farooq Ahmad Khan said, pointing to the heavy presence of Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir and actions of the occupation troops.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he regretted that India had rejected the positive proposal of opening the Line of Control (LoC) to facilitate meetings of between the divided families.
Maj-Gen Farooq Ahmed said over 49,000 people had so far been reported killed and 74,000 injured in the tragedy.
Various roads were still blocked, including Kaghan valley, Neelum valley and Jhelum vally roads and work was continuing to reopen them soon, he said.
He appreciated the support extended by the international community, but asked for more on urgent basis.
He said over 3,000 sorties had been flown to the affected areas. Relief goods were arriving and being dispatched continuously through a chain of long convoys and other efforts, he said.
He said new basis had been established in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP because of the requirements of further going deep into the affected areas. He said medical teams continued to reach victims in the far-flung areas. Over 200 people were evacuated for treatment in hospitals yesterday.
He thanked the WHO and Egyptian government for provision of anti-tetanus vaccines. The medicines, he told reporters, were being dispatched to the forward hospitals.
Maj-Gen Farooq Ahmed Khan agreed with the UN assessment that the present aid mission in Pakistan was one of the most difficult because of the magnitude of the problem and the difficult Himalayan terrain.
He said infrastructure, town and villages were destroyed by the earthquake and tens of thousands of children and families were receiving medical and other aid.
He said the country stills needed world’s help to provide tents and kerosene heaters for the victims.
The government, he said, was taking all the measures to protect children and for this purpose, a complete record was being ensured so that they were reunited with their families.
He appreciated UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s appeal to the international community for more assistance for the quake victims.
He said 80-100 power supply had been restored to all big towns and cities. Water supply had also improved. Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot were getting a number of water treatment plants.