Musharraf telephones Indonesian counterpart; Expressed Support, Sympathy
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday called his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono to express Pakistani nation's grief and wholehearted support in the wake of last weekend's earthquake that has claimed more than 5000 lives and caused widespread destruction in Java province.

"The government and the people of Pakistan fully share Indonesia’s sorrow over loss of lives and will extend all support to their Indonesian brethren in overcoming this disaster," said the President, while informing Yodhoyono that another consignment of relief goods worth US dollars one million (approximately Rs six crore) is on its way to Indonesia.

President Musharraf said Pakistan stands firm with the government and people of Indonesia as they strive to cope with the natural disaster in this hour of tragedy.

He assured Yodhoyono of continued cooperation in its relief efforts and gratefully recalled Indonesia's assistance to Pakistan in dealing with the aftermath of October 8, 2005 earthquake catastrophe.

Pakistan has already rushed a planeload of relief goods including medicine, blankets, food and tents to Indonesia, following the 6.3-magnitude quake that rocked two provinces of Java and Yogyakarta.

The Indonesian President expressed gratitude to the Pakistani leader for his expression of support and sympathy and the country’s immediate supply of relief assistance.

He said the Indonesian nation would never forget the prompt and generous response of the Pakistani government in aid of the Tsunami survivors following the December 2004 calamity.

"Your support speaks of deep and abiding relationship between the people of our countries," he said.

Medical Mission

Meanwhile, Additional Secretary Cabinet Division, Syed Yasin Tuesday said that arrangements are being made to send a fully equipped medical mission to help the quake affectees in Indonesia.

Speaking to 'Pakistan Times' [Daily Web Newspaper], he said the mission including doctors and paramedics from armed forces will have all necessary medicines and equipment to set up a field hospital in the affected area.

The mission may possibly leave for Indonesia today or tomorrow in 3 or 4 C-130 planes.

Yasin Hussain said that soon after learning about the disaster, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz directed the Cabinet Division to arrange immediate supply of necessary aid to the affectees in the brotherly country.

A consignment of 500 tents, 3,000 blankets, 6 tons medicines and 500 ration packs was despatched on Sunday nigh, which is being distributed, he said.

To a question he said, disaster management is being organized at each level in the country and a law in this regard would come soon.●