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Pakistan to airlift tents, blankets
for Gujarat quake victims

Pakistan on Monday announced it would begin airlifting a large quantity of tents and blankets for distribution among Gujarat earthquake victims after India conveyed willingness to accept its offer to send relief supplies, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said.

Sattar told state-run Pakistan Television that planes carrying relief supplies would make a number of sorties to Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

The latest announcement followed Monday morning's bitter comments made by military ruler General Pervez Musharraf stating that India has declined to accept Islamabad's offer to send relief supplies saying there were enough relief supplies available at home to cater to the needs of quake victims.

A statement issued by Pakistan's foreign officer, however, said that President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar and Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf have sent messages of condolence and sympathy to the President and the prime minister expressing their sense of grief at the tragic loss of life and property caused by the severe earthquake in parts of India, specially in Gujarat.

As a gesture of goodwill, the government of Pakistan has offered to provide relief assistance for the quake-affected people, the statement said.

The emergency relief cell of Pakistan has organised the required number of tents and blankets in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for despatch to Ahmedabad in a number of air sorties starting Tuesday.

Strangely, in his interview to the PTV, Sattar said the Indian government has responded to the offer made by Pakistan on Saturday indicating Islamabad should send tents and blankets to provide relief to the quake-hit people of Gujarat.

There was no official explanation available in Islamabad to clarify what prompted Gen Musharraf to state that India has declined Pakistan's offer of relief assistance.

Reacting to Gen Musharraf's remarks, Indian High Commissions officials in Islamabad denied that India has rejected Pakistan's offer.

The officials said that the two countries were still in touch each other to identify the items to be sent for relief.

The Complete Coverage

OTHER SITES WITH INFORMATION
ON THE GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE:
panjokutch.com
kutchinfo.com
ahmedabad.com

EXTERNAL LINKS
The RD Killer Quake of Jan 26, 2001: Technical details
All about earthquakes in India and their impact
India Meteorological Department's earthquake reports
Disaster relief set-up in India
Major earthquakes across the world in recent times
A post-quake volunteer's unusual tryst with the departed
Earthquake News: Web site offering comprehensive news, information and features
Earthquake site map
USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program

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