Pak preferred politics to citizen’s welfare on Indian flood assistance package: Editorial

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan government had given precedence to political considerations over the welfare of the flood-affected people when it was undecided about India’s five million-dollar flood assistance package, an editorial in a leading Pakistani newspaper has said.

“One wonders why there is so much confusion among the ranks of those who represent the government. It appears that despite Pakistan’s desperate need for aid, in the end political considerations were given precedence over the welfare of the citizenry,” an editorial in the Daily Times.

“The latter requires immediate assistance regardless of its source. Pakistan may have benefited if it had recognized that, given its tense ties with India, particularly after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the offer constituted a confidence booster in terms of the possibility of improved relations in the future, something which has been attempted for some time now,” it added.

The editorial further said that by not accepting the offer, Pakistan exposed itself to allegations of political cynicism and ungraceful behavior.

“Particularly since India made the offer as a result of domestic criticism that its government was allowing political considerations to override humanitarian concerns,” it added.

Earlier, on August 13, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had conveyed deep sympathies on behalf of the Government of India and the people of the country on the devastation caused by floods while offering the fund.

However, Pakistan accepted the offer only after the US interfered in the matter. (ANI)