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Quake relief materials from India reach Pakistan

     New Delhi: An IL-76 MD transport plane carrying twenty-five tons of relief supplies, including seven trucks of medicines, 50 tents and 2,500 blankets reached Islamabad at 2.15 am. on Wednesday. "Earlier it was scheduled to be sent there on Tuesday evening, but due to landing problems at Islamabad International Airport because of aid flying in from other parts of the world as informed by the Pakistan authorities, it could leave only at 1.30 p.m. last night. The Indian Air Force crew sent on the mission has returned after delivering the relief consignment sent off with the message "From the people of India to the people of Pakistan," said Squadron Leader Mahesh Upasani, Public Relations Officer of the Indian Air Force. "This is a proud moment for all of us. We are going as peace ambassadors to Pakistan," said Wing Commander Hemant P Kumar before taking off from the technical area of New Delhi's Palam Airport for Pakistan on Tuesday evening.

     Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt said that by sending the relief materials, India was expressing its solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of need. "This earthquake has been very severe and affected both the countries. We express our solidarity with the neighbour country in this time of disaster. We would be very glad to provide assistance to them," he said. When asked about the possibility of a joint rescue and relief operation being undertaken by the Indian and Pakistani forces, he said it depended on Pakistan's willingness to agree to such a proposal. He, however, said that if the need arose, India would send more relief materials to Pakistan.