Mystery behind top US official’s visit to ‘banned’ JuD relief camp in flood-hit Pak
By ANIThursday, August 26, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Even as the international community, particularly the United States, continues to voice concern regarding the involvement of terror organisations in flood relief operations in Pakistan, a top American official bumped into a relief camp which is believed to be run by Falah-i-Insaniat (FI), the latest reincarnation of banned Jamaat-ud- Dawa -the front face of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to reports, Administrator of US Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr Rajiv Shah visited a relief camp in Sukkur, Sindh, to witness the relief work being carried out and even donated two trucks of relief materials at the camp.
JuD spokesman Yahya Mujahid claimed that the camp Shah visited was run by Falah-i-Insaniat.
A statement issued by the group quoted Shah, as saying :”The JuD is actively taking part in relief operations. The work being done by the group is appreciable.”
The US embassy in Islamabad, however, rejected reports regarding Shah’s visit to any such relief camp run by extremists, and insisted that he had only toured a camp run by the government in a school.
US Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said the mentioned camp was being served by the World Food Programme and Save the Children.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit expressed his ignorance when asked about the US official’s visit to the JuD’ relief camp.
Meanwhile, Shah stressed that Islamabad would have to assure the world over the accountability of aid that has already been pledged by various countries.
“We are going to work at it, but these are tough economic times around the world and it will require a demonstration of real transparency and accountability and that resources spent in Pakistan get results,” Shah told a foreign news agency during an interview.
He said it was important for the Pakistani government to address the concerns of the international community regarding the aid money being misused by corrupt officials and extremist groups running out the administration’s efforts to take advantage of the prevalent chaotic situation in the flood-hit country. (ANI)
