Pakistan may accept India's assistance for flood victims if it is routed through U.N.

[JI7]

Source: the hindu

Still undecided on how to respond to India's offer of assistance of $5 million in relief material, for the victims of the massive floods, Pakistan on Saturday was toying with the option of accepting the proposal, provided it was routed through the United Nations system.

Though Foreign Office officials earlier this week indicated that Pakistan was not inclined to accept any assistance from India, the Indian offer has not been rejected outright as of now. It was being considered, said an official, adding that Pakistan might not accept it as a bilateral offering but could well take it if routed through the U.N. system.

At a time when Pakistan is having trouble mobilising resources from the international donor community, there is a segment within the Pakistani leadership which feels that outright rejection of the Indian offer would not go down well with donors worldwide. Closer home, a rejection would also make it that much more difficult to pick up the pieces of the dialogue process.

Such being the odds, routing the assistance through the U.N. system — which on Wednesday issued an appeal for $460 million as emergency aid for the flood-affected millions — is being considered as a middle path. More so, as the U.N. itself is looking towards neighbouring countries to source supplies urgently needed for providing immediate relief to the estimated six million in dire need of help.

Read more: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article571004.ece