US reiterates support for Pakistan after flood devastation

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. —Reuters

• More than 1000 people lost lives due to floods.
• UN issues flash appeal for $160 million to help Pakistan.
• US government has already announced $1 million grant.

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The United States (US) once again reiterated its support for Pakistan as country mourned the deaths of more than 1000 people with millions of people are living under open sky due to torrential rains and floods.
After the devastation caused by the floods, the United Nations has issued a flash appeal on Tuesday for $160 million to help Pakistan cope with catastrophic floods that have killed more than 1,100 people, destroyed infrastructure and crops, and affected 33 million people. In view of the massive flood devastation, international community along with US government has announced relief aid including medical assistance, food items and funds for flood stricken Pakistan. Taking to Twitter, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “we stand with Pakistan in this difficult times.” “As Pakistan suffers from devastating flooding, the United States through USAID, is now providing $30 million towards critical humanitarian assistance like food, safe water, and shelter,” he added.

Earlier, US government has also announced $1 million grant in support of Islamabad’s efforts to address floods and other natural disasters and vowed to stand by Pakistan in hard times.

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Pakistan reiterates call for joint probe on India's firing of supersonic missile into Pakistan

Islamabad Police personnel standing outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday rejected India's purported closure of a  "highly irresponsible incident" during which a supersonic missile was fired into Pakistan's territory this year on March 9. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan has reiterated demand for a joint probe. "We have seen India’s announcement of the findings of an internal Court of Inquiry regarding the incident of firing of a rogue supersonic missile into Pakistani territory on 9 March, and the decision to terminate the services of three Indian Air Force (IAF) officers reportedly found responsible for the reckless incident," statement by the FO read. FO further stated that the measures taken by India in the aftermath of the incident, in addition to the subsequent findings and punishments handed by the "so-called internal Court of Inquiry" are totally "unsatisfactory, deficient and inadequate".
The ministry's statement added that India has not only failed to respond to Pakistan's demand for a joint inquiry, but has also evaded the questions raised by Pakistan regarding its command and control system, safety and security protocols, and the reason for India’s delayed admission of the Missile launch. "Systemic loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in handling of strategic weapons cannot be covered up beneath the veneer of individual human error," the statement read, demanding India for a joint probe in the spirit of transparency — particularly if it has "nothing to hide". The FO asserted that the imprudent Indian action of March 9, jeopardized regional peace and security, and that Pakistan’s demonstration of exemplary restraint is a testament of the country's systemic maturity and abiding commitment to peace as a responsible nuclear state. "Pakistan reiterates its demand that the Indian Government must immediately provide specific responses to the queries raised by Pakistan after the incident and accedes to its call for a joint probe," the statement read.

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