U.S. commits $56 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan, promising more

Khalid Umar Malik
28 Sep 2022, 20:11 GMT+10

WASHINGTON DC, USA - As floods devastate the South Asian country, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Pakistan to seek debt relief from its close partner China.
Blinken promised Pakistan strong U.S. support as it recovers from floods that submerged one-third of the country, an area the size of the United Kingdom.
"We send a straightforward message.

WASHINGTON DC, USA - As floods devastate the South Asian country, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Pakistan to seek debt relief from its close partner China.

Blinken promised Pakistan strong U.S. support as it recovers from floods that submerged one-third of the country, an area the size of the United Kingdom.

"We send a straightforward message. We are here for Pakistan, as we have been in previous natural disasters, looking forward to rebuilding," Blinken said following talks with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Washington.

"I also urged our colleagues to engage China on some of the critical issues of debt relief and restructuring so that Pakistan can recover from the floods as quickly as possible," Blinken said.

China is a key economic and political partner of Pakistan, pushing ahead with a $54 billion "economic corridor" that will build infrastructure and provide Beijing with an outlet to the Indian Ocean.

Washington, whose Cold War alliance with Islamabad has deteriorated, has repeatedly claimed that China will benefit while Pakistan will face unsustainable debt.

Pakistan has repeatedly dismissed warnings from the United States, which regards China as its primary global competitor.

Over 1,600 people, one-third of whom were children, died in Pakistan's floods, and more than seven million were displaced amid fears that such natural disasters will become more common due to climate change.

The U.S. has pledged $56 million in humanitarian aid and sent 17 planes loaded with supplies, with promises of long-term assistance.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Los Angeles Herald.

More Information

68 ℉

Fair in Los Angeles/Usc

International

Section

House Ethics Committee report results in Santos expulsion

WASHINGTON D.C.: After a House Ethics Committee report found substantial evidence that he broke the law, New York Republican representative ...

Israel had blueprint of 7 October attack plan - The New York Times

In a report by The New York Times, it has been revealed that Israeli officials had obtained a detailed battle ...

Myanmar ethnic group alliance captures trade gate on Chinese border

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which launched a surprise offensive last month against ...