ISLAMABAD, 13 October 2005 — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Pakistan yesterday, bringing US support for Washington’s wounded regional ally in the wake of the devastating South Asian earthquake.
“I do want to affirm with the Pakistani people that the international community and the US are with them in this terrible time,” she told reporters earlier in the day.
“Our support is not just for today but tomorrow as well,” Rice told reporters at Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s residence.
“We are not just friends between governments but between people,” she said.
Rice promised long-term US help for Pakistan after the earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people.
Rice met with Pakistani leaders in the capital but did not tour the devastated Kashmir region.
“The United States has, as many parts of the world have, been through natural disasters,” she said. “This is one of epic proportions. I want the people of Pakistan to know that our thoughts are with you ... We will be with you not just today but tomorrow.”
Rice said US President George W. Bush had asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to coordinate between the US and Pakistani militaries to help earthquake victims.
Bush had pledged an initial $50 million in aid to Pakistan. A Pakistani foreign ministry statement said Rice told Pakistan the United States will provide “tents and water purification plants to help alleviate the suffering”.
Rice spoke after discussing US relief contributions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri.
Rice predicted more US earthquake aid for Pakistan beyond an initial $50 million but gave no specific figures or timeline. Tens of thousands were believed killed in Saturday’s quake, with millions left homeless after entire communities were flattened in the region touching Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. Before leaving the airport, Rice met with some Afghanistan-based US troops who are ferrying wounded from the earthquake zone to medical treatment in Islamabad. She posed with crewmembers of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter that had just landed with 65 injured earthquake victims.
Aziz said Rice and Japanese Senior Vice Foreign Minister Shuzen Tanigawa, whom he also met yesterday in Islamabad, had promised helicopters to help the aid operation.
Aziz said “close to 40 helicopters” were now sending relief to the affected area. He said Rice was the highest-ranking foreign visitor since Saturday’s earthquake and called the United States “a close and important friend”. With additional helicopters arriving yesterday, the United States will have 12 helicopters as well as heavy military transport planes in Pakistan for the recovery effort. The United States is also contributing medical equipment and other supplies.
Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno said an additional 21 helicopters and other equipment is at the ready.
