Covid Second Wave: Pakistan Lends Helping Hand To India, Offers To Provide Relief Support Amid Medical Crisis

The two countries can explore possible ways of further cooperation to mitigate the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan said.

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New Delhi: As India battles the fresh wave of Coronavirus pandemic, neighbouring Pakistan has offered assistance in terms of providing relief support, including ventilators and other materials.

The two countries can explore possible ways of further cooperation to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, Pakistan said.

Pakistan's Foreign Office issued a statement late Saturday night stating that the country was ready to send specific items quickly as soon as the modalities were worked out.

Pakistan has offered to provide relief support to India including ventilators, Bi-PAP, digital X-ray machines, PPEs, and related items, according to the statement as a gesture of solidarity with India in the wake of current Covid-19 crisis.

It said that the authorities concerned of Pakistan and India can work out modalities for quick delivery of the relief items. They (authorities) can also explore possible ways of further cooperation to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, it said.

This comes after Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed solidarity with India amid the current Covid-19 crisis. He took to Twitter and wrote: "I want to express our solidarity with the people of India as they battle a dangerous wave of Covid-19. Our prayers for a speedy recovery go to all those suffering from the pandemic in our neighbourhood and the world. We must fight this global challenge confronting humanity together".

Meanwhile, Hashtags like '#pakistanstandwithindia' were seen trending on Twitter as users in Pakistan expressed support for India and shared suggestions for both countries to come together to deal with these difficult times.

Several Pakistanis, including political leaders, actors, sports personalities have offered prayers and good wishes Indians. Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar also said that it was time to support each other.

Musician-Actor Ali Zafar also tweeted with the hashtag '#pakistanstandwithindia'.

Meanwhile, pressure is being mounted on the United States for allowing critical Covid vaccine-related supplies to reach India. 

A senior State Department official has defended the country’s restrictions on the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccine, asserting that US President Joe Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people, 

“...the United States first and foremost is engaged in an ambitious and effective and, so far, successful effort to vaccinate the American people,” PTI quoted State Department spokesperson Ned Price as saying while responding to a poser on when Biden administration would decide on India’s request to lift a ban on the export of vaccine raw materials.

The support from Pakistan is a welcome development even as both countries have been at the opposite ends often criticising each other over the matters of national security and Jammu & Kashmir's status.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi had also tweeted: "We express our support to the people of India in the wake of the current wave of  Covid-19 infections, that has hit our region hard. On behalf of the people of Pakistan, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the affected families in India".

(With Agency Inputs)