Indian aid should come through UN

ISLAMABAD: After dithering over the offer for days, Pakistan has finally come clean with its India-is-the-enemy stance and refused to directly accept India’s offer of $5 million in relief assistance for flood victims, suggesting instead that the aid be donated to the UN flood response appeal.

A senior official at the Foreign Office confirmed on Saturday that the decision had been conveyed to New Delhi through diplomatic channels.

The $460 million UN appeal, to which India has been asked to contribute, was 64 per cent funded as of Saturday.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had on Aug 13 offered $5 million in relief assistance for flood survivors during a conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Days after Mr Krishna’s call, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and reminded him of the offer, indicating that India could give it if needed.

The Pakistan government, however, deliberated on the pros and cons of accepting or rejecting the offer for almost a fortnight and ultimately settled for middle ground -- asking that the donor route the assistance through the UN.

In the meantime, media attention was focused on Islamabad’s response and various functionaries gave divergent statements on the issue, revealing the fact they were not aware of what was happening and the government’s inability to reach a decision.

The foreign minister, during his visit to New York, told the media that the Pakistan government had accepted the offer and appreciated the Indian gesture. His ministry, meanwhile, has been insisting that no final decision was taken.

At a press conference on Friday, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the Indian offer had been accepted.

While explaining Pakistan’s hesitancy in accepting the offer, Mr Qureshi had “referred to a different nature of relationship with India” and sensitivities involved in the matter. This perhaps was the most honest answer as it indicated that hostilities between the two countries had led to Islamabad’s reluctance.

The United States, which is one of the top donors to the flood assistance, had noted Pakistan’s hesitance and urged Islamabad to accept the offer, warning it against indulging in politics during a disaster.

The Indian government made the offer only after criticism at home that political disputes with Pakistan were overruling humanitarian considerations. Moreover, diplomatic observers say, the offer was symbolic and motivated by the world focus on the devastating floods.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been marred by mistrust and hostility. The logjam in ties caused by the Mumbai attacks has not been overcome despite recent efforts involving the top leadership of both the countries and some of the world powers.