Hundreds Dead in Powerful Asian Earthquake

[Urban Ranger]

Stick to the topic, people. If you want to make a political statement take it elsewhere.

And Winston, consider yourself warned. If you have nothing relevant to say, by all means don't say anything.

[Atahualpa]

The EU needs to issue more help. The US is held back by its own catastrophe

edit: I just donated 20€ to the austrian red cross.

[Jon Miller]

thety are in my prayers

JM

[Pekka]

the toll seems to be ever rising.. really bad year with disasters

I hope everyone pulls together to save what's left to save in Pakistan.

[Ming]

Come on folks... stay on topic. I'm tired of deleting posts... next time I will restrict the poster as well.

[SlowwHand]

Politics have nothing to do with this. End of discussion on politics.

We're talking over 20,000 human beings killed in a natural disaster.

[Zoid]

UNICEF reports that as many as 40 000 can be dead. This is almost beyond comprehension...

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Spiffor

It completely depends of the media hype. There was quite a big reaction in the west after the Tsunami, which had everything for media hype: a catastrophe of absolutely epic proportions, right during christmas, and when countries competed as to which one would give most aid.

Actually, thinking about it, there was quite a bit of interest about the earthquake in Bam, Iran, when it struck during Christmas 2003.

Media hype? Hardly. 100,000+ people were killed. If it had happened in summer, the coverage would have been the same.

[MOBIUS]

Actually, without wishing to belittle this disaster, I think they got off lightly...

The Indian Subcontinent is powering into Asia at a speed of 5cm a year, with that incredible pressure having to be dissipated somehow. 7.6 on the Richter scale is peanuts compared to the power being stored up!

Lets hope the higher death toll estimates are inaccurate and that it brings the two local superpowers closer together as India is offering Pakistan assistance...

[Tingkai]

Pakistan government is saying 20,000 to 30,000 killed, according to the latest wire stories.

U.S. is sending helicopters from Afghanistan.

[Saras]

That's like a whole town wiped out...

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by MOBIUS
Lets hope the higher death toll estimates are inaccurate and that it brings the two local superpowers closer together as India is offering Pakistan assistance...

Greece & Turkey moved closer after the Turkish quake in '99 IIRC.

[Whoha]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/10/wquake310.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/10/10/ixnewstop.html

"Militant Training camps wiped out"
"Training camps used by jihadists battling with the Indian army for control of Kashmir were buried by landslides or left in ruins by the earthquake, bringing hope of a new opportunity for peace-making after a 16-year Islamic insurgency.

India and Pakistan, nuclear rivals who both lay claim to Kashmir in its entirety, have fought two of their three wars over the territory.

Security analysts said yesterday that the earthquake in Pakistan's highly-militarised Kashmir region had "significantly depreciated'' the insurgents' capacity to carry on their fight for independence in neighbouring Indian-administered Kashmir.

"The militant groups and their army handlers will now be totally absorbed in relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts,'' said Arun Sahgal, of the United Service Institution in New Delhi.

India claims that Pakistan backs various insurgent groups, assisting them across the line of control that divides the disputed territory. Pakistan denies the claim.

Military sources said that an estimated 1,000 Pakistani soldiers died in the earthquake after their concrete-roofed bunkers along the Kashmir frontier collapsed. Security sources said 15 militant training camps had been put out of action by the earthquake.

Almost all groups fighting the Indian army in Kashmir had ''camp offices'' either in Muzafarrabad, the devastated capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, or surrounding areas.

Senior Indian army officers recently claimed the existence of least 55 militant training camps in the region.

Many in New Delhi see the earthquake as presenting a new opportunity for India and Pakistan to overcome their past hostilities. "This is an opportunity for India and Pakistan to forget their differences," said N M Prusty, of the aid agency Care.

Within hours of the earthquake, Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, telephoned President Pervez Musharraf of Pakstan to offer help. The countries' military chiefs were in touch with one another, as were commanders along the Kashmir frontier. An Indian soldier who mistakenly crossed into Pakistani territory after the earthquake was allowed to return yesterday, an unthinkable gesture in the past."

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Verto gets a week for his comment and his subsequent attempt to defend his action.

No offense, but to punish someone more for defending themselves is the ruling of a tyrant.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Quake-Pakistan-India.html

Pakistan to Accept Quake Relief From India


NEW DELHI (AP) -- Pakistan said Monday it will accept relief aid for earthquake victims from its longtime rival India, a move that carries immense political implications for the neighbors who have fought three wars.

India's Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said his country would send tents, food, blankets and medicine to the hard-hit Pakistani portion of Kashmir.

The announcement came after Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telephoned Pakistan's high commissioner in New Delhi and ''reiterated his offer to send relief aid to us for earthquake victims.''

High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan met Singh and then contacted the government in Islamabad, which decided to accept the Indian offer after consultations at the highest level, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

Earlier Monday, India said Pakistan turned down its offer of helicopters for rescue operations, saying it had enough at the moment. Pakistan also ruled out launching joint rescue operations with India for earthquake victims in Kashmir.

Pakistan and India have a long history of bitter relations, particularly over Kashmir -- the focus of two of their three wars. However, the two sides have taken several steps since last year to improve relations.

Soon after Saturday's earthquake, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and offered humanitarian help. Musharraf also made a similar offer for the victims of the quake in the Indian portion of Kashmir where more than 800 people died.

Death toll estimates in Pakistan ranged from 20,000 to 30,000.

Wow! It's good to see that even bitter rivals can look past their differences in a time of tragedy. Definitely a step in the right direction.

[Chemical Ollie]

Help has still not reached many of the struck areas, and there are too little resources where it has. Seems like many more will die from secondary effects than by the initial quake.

There are some reports that Usama Bin Ladin is among the fatal casualties. (But haven't we heard that one before?)