NEW DELHI, Oct 26:
Notwithstanding the chill in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached out to Pakistan in the wake of the major earthquake as he called up Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and offered assistance besides condolences for the loss of lives.
“Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & expressed condolences on the loss of lives due to the quake. Offered all possible assistance from India,” Modi tweeted.
Pakistan was severely affected by today’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake, whose epicentre was in Jarm area in north Afghanistan.
Modi also thanked Sharif for ensuring return of Geeta, the differently-abled girl who had crossed over to Pakistan many years ago, and came back home today.
“Expressed my gratitude to PM Nawaz Sharif for his efforts that ensured Geeta returned home,” Modi said in another tweet.
Modi reached out to Pakistan despite the frosty relations between the two countries and the renewed cross-border firing by Pakistan in which one civilian has been killed in Jammu and Kashmir and several others injured, besides leading to a scare in the border villages.
Sharif also has been criticising India at international fora like at the UN and in his meeting with US President Barack Obama last week.
Modi also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to take stock of the situation and offered assistance to Pakistan and Afghanistan which were hit badly by the temblor.
He also called up President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan, where the earthquake of 7.5 magnitude was epicentred, and assured all possible support.
“Returned from Bihar. Spoke to J&K CM Shri Mufti Mohammad Sayeed & took stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate earthquake,” Modi tweeted this evening on return from the poll-bound State where he addressed two rallies.
“I just spoke to President @ashrafghani and expressed my sympathies & condolences at the damage caused by the earthquake,” the Prime Minister said.
“President @Ashraf Ghani shared with me his initial assessment of the damage. I offered all possible assistance,” he added in a tweet.
Modi said Ghani told him that due to the quake, a school building collapsed and children lost their lives.
“I was very pained to hear of this… When President @ashrafghani was telling me about the school, my mind went back to a similar tragedy in Anjar, Kutch in 2001. Felt very sad,” he added.
Earlier, soon after the earthquake struck, he said he had asked for urgent assessment of the damage caused by the tremors which hit many parts of India.
“Heard about strong earthquake in Afghanistan-Pakistan region whose tremors have been felt in parts of India. I pray for everyone’s safety,” he said in a tweet.
“I have asked for an urgent assessment and we stand ready for assistance where required, including Afghanistan & Pakistan,” the Prime Minister added.
A powerful 7.5 magnitude quake, epicentred in Jarm, about 250 kms from the capital Kabul in Afghanistan’s northeast, also shook Pakistan and India. The quake lasted about one minute. (PTI)
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