In his statement on the floods in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said in a tweet, “Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy.” PM Modi’s message, extending condolences to the families of the victims in the flood-devastated Pakistan, is a welcome gesture which must have come as a relief for the Pakistanis in the hour of grief.
What is also a welcome development is that the discussions are underway at the high levels in India on the possibility of extending humanitarian assistance to Pakistan that is reeling under devastating floods which have wreaked havoc in various parts of the country reportedly claiming over 1,100 lives and displacing 33 million people so far. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is reported to have made an appeal for aid to deal with the crisis in a country which is already facing several problems including the financial one. Even, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres launched a global appeal for aid to Pakistan in view of massive and extensive damage to crops and property apart from human lives.
In the midst of the crisis of such a huge proportion, PM Narendra Modi’s timely and much-needed message, expressing hope for an early restoration of normalcy in the neighbouring nation shows the maturity on the part of the government of India. Despite the poor state of ties between India and Pakistan due to Islamabad’s continued support to terror outfits, PM Modi’s positive gesture reaffirms India as a responsible and mature country which always remains concerned about the humanitarian crisis in its neighbourhood and beyond. India has been addressing humanitarian problems in various countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. India under PM Modi went beyond the neighbourhood considerations when it extended assistance for the people in war-hit Ukraine. The “Operation Ganga” carried out by India, scores of citizens of various countries who were stranded in Ukraine amid the Russian military operation were evacuated. When the war broke out in Ukraine, PM Modi was quick to speak to several European leaders, expressing deep anguish over the deteriorating situation and humanitarian crisis in the war-hit country.
Though a final call on extending humanitarian assistance to Pakistan is yet to be taken, PM Modi’s gesture conveys a larger message that India is always ready to help if it comes to saving lives of innocent human beings, like what it did in war-ravaged Afghanistan where New Delhi kept on sending relief materials for the people despite its differences with the Taliban who captured Kabul. Delhi continues to extend assistance for Afghan people without recognizing the Taliban regime in Kabul.
The international community has always acclaimed and lauded India’s role in addressing the humanitarian crisis worldwide. What is advisable is that despite strained ties between New Delhi and Islamabad, the two neighbours must put aside the differences and work together to help the citizens of Pakistan who are presently stranded in the flooding. In fact, PM Modi’s tweet message has amply signaled that India cannot remain oblivious to suffering of people right at its land boundary with Pakistan. Islamabad must also realise that its citizens are in need of help. In what is being viewed as a positive development, Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Monday that he might propose lifting the trade ban imposed on India after the Jammu and Kashmir reorganization in 2019, so as to import Indian vegetables and essential commodities. Thus far, Islamabad has only made exceptions for pharmaceutical imports from India during the Covid-19 pandemic, and India’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is seeking help from the global community, has thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his concern over the human and material losses caused by the devastating floods in the country.
What is eagerly awaited now is India’s decision to send out some relief material for those stranded in floods in Pakistan. Entire global community must be keeping its eyes on whether the Modi government announces any assistance to help the flood-devastated people of Pakistan. However, what is understandable at the same time is that Delhi will quickly extend help once Islamabad makes a formal request for that. It would be short-sighted of Pakistan to reject any opportunity to lift the trade ban with India. By taking such a step, Pakistan will add to the problems of its own people as in that case the crisis-ridden citizens will be deprived of affordable supplies.