ISLAMABAD, 28 October 2005 — President Pervez Musharraf defended his government’s response to the devastating earthquake which left over 50,000 people dead in the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. In the face of strong criticism, Musharraf remained resolute over his handling of the crisis.

Musharraf has faced criticism that the official response has been too slow, but he told Britain’s influential Financial Times business daily that his government had “done a good, if not a very good job.”

“We confront a problem and we try to solve it and when we are getting near a solution, another problem arises and we again confront that,” Musharraf said.

“So it’s in and out of the frying pan. It’s a new challenge. If you fail a challenge, it goes directly against you, but if we deliver, I’m sure it will have a very positive effect on me and on the government.”

Nearly three weeks after the quake left tens of thousands dead and some 77,000 injured, some 700,000 people have received food but another 1.6 million are in need of sustenance, according to the United Nations.

About 120,000 tents have been delivered while 200,000 more are on their way for up to 3.3 million homeless.

The UN begged the world yesterday for a dramatic effort on a par with the 1948-49 Berlin airlift to save earthquake survivors.

However, Musharraf insisted he would not bend on his refusal to allow helicopter pilots from rival neighbor India to fly relief sorties into the Pakistani part of disputed Kashmir, where the quake struck.

“The world should understand that we cannot allow Indian soldiers to operate in (Pakistani) Kashmir.

“Our whole defense system is there, our whole military is there.

Pakistan ‘Pleased’ With Earthquake Donor Meeting: Aziz

Pakistan is pleased with pledges by international donors to provide extra funds to assist earthquake victims but hopes the aid effort will continue, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said in Moscow yesterday.

“The government of Pakistan is very pleased with the support” announced Wednesday at a meeting in Geneva, where donors promised an extra $580 million after the United Nations and relief agencies warned funding so far was woefully inadequate. Pakistan was “eternally grateful” for the assistance provided thus far to victims of the earthquake, he said.

Indian Delegation to Arrive Today

An Indian delegation, led by Joint Secretary Dilip Sinha will arrive here today to debate out a final settlement for the opening of the Line of Control for the movement of Kashmiris for relief and rehabilitation purposes.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told Arab News yesterday, “Formal talks are scheduled on Saturday to reach a final settlement on the issue of opening the Line of Control for Kashmiris for their relief and rehabilitation operations.”

The proposal to open the Line of Control was floated by President Musharraf.