KANDAHAR: The second C-130 aircraft carrying relief goods consignment including medicines, utensils, food items from Pakistan landed at Kandahar Airport Friday. The consignment was handed over to the representative of Governor of Kandahar in a ceremony at the airport. The ceremony was also attended by elders of the community, chambers of commerce, media and other dignitaries.The president Kandahar Chambers of Commerce and Industries was also present along with other office bearers.The dignitaries, in their speeches, thanked the people and Government of Pakistan for the relief assistance.
They expressed that such cooperation would also continue in future. Consul General of Pakistan Naeem Khan thanked all the dignitaries for their participation and informed them that Pakistan stood with the Afghans in that hour of need and ensured full cooperation to strengthen bilateral relations. The first C-130 aircraft carrying relief goods had arrived at Kabul Airport Thursday. On the occasion, Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan called it just a beginning.
He said two more flights carrying relief goods would be arranged for Kandahar and Khost on Friday and Saturday. On Thursday, while receiving the goods at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan said the flight was “just a beginning of the humanitarian assistance for the people of the country”.
Talking to media persons, the envoy said the relief goods included around 10 tonnes of flour, 1.5 tonnes of ghee and a huge quantity of emergency medicine. On Wednesday, it was reported that the government had decided to dispatch humanitarian assistance comprising food and medicines for the people of Afghanistan.
“Three C-130s are being dispatched to Afghanistan. After the first immediate tranche through the air, further supplies would continue through land routes,” the Foreign Office had said in a statement.
The statement said that the government will continue to do its best to help Afghan brethren during the prevalent challenging environment.In a statement, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi reiterated on Friday Pakistan’s commitment to extend help to the people of Afghanistan despite limited resources.
Qureshi said Pakistan wants peace and prosperity in the neighbouring country.
The minister further stated that a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan wasn’t in the interest of the Afghan people, the region or the world.
He stressed that saving Afghanistan from the crisis was the common responsibility of all. Qureshi noted that in the past, the Afghan soil was used against Pakistan. “We should encourage the Taliban not to allow their land to be used against any other country”. He emphasised that if the Taliban met the expectations of the international community, they would make things easier for themselves and their country.
