Friday, October 21 2005 09:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Terming as unacceptable acts of terrorism committed in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the killer earthquake, the US has said the need of the hour was to save innocent lives and overcome the natural disaster which has ravaged the state.

Testifying before the US House' Asia-Pacific subcommittee yesterday (Oct 20, 2005), Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca said, "There are those who are cynically using the situation" caused by the earthquake to conduct violent terrorist acts as 'demonstrated by the assassination of Jammu and Kashmir state Education Minister Ghulam Nabi Lone.'

"This is unacceptable. The real battle going on in Kashmir today (Oct 21, 2005) will be to save the hundreds of thousands of innocent lives and overcome a natural disaster the likes of which this region has never experienced," Rocca said.

Lauding India and Pakistan for putting aside their differences and working together to help quake victims, Rocca said that the US hoped this would lead to increased cooperation between the two nations in the future.

"We have seen Pakistanis and Indians working together to provide help to victims in Kashmir. We strongly support these gestures and hope they will lead to increased long-term cooperation between both nations," she said.

Rocca also praised the Governments of India and Pakistan for having 'found the political will to allow the people of Kashmir ready access to their relatives on either side of the Line of Control.'

According to Rocca, the groundwork for this level of trust between the two neighbouring nations was laid at historic Indo-Pak talks held over the past year.

Rocca said that in addition to the US$ 50,000 dollars to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and US$ 50,000 to 'Save the Children' Fund contributed by its Embassy in India, the US was looking at other ways of assisting the country.

"We are working quickly to provide significant additional assistance to NGOs amounting to several hundred thousand dollars. Additional US Government support, especially to NGOs in Jammu and Kashmir, would help meet the urgent needs of affected communities," she said.

"We are providing funds for rescue and relief to both Pakistan and India," she added.

Rocca said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had called up Foreign Minister Natwar Singh to convey America's sympathies with all those affected by the quake.

"People are suffering and the American people are responding demonstrating the depth of our commitment to our friends in the region," Rocca said.

House subcommittee chairman James Leach noted that providing immediate shelter, food and health care to the victims of the disaster must be considered an urgent international priority.

According to Leach, loss of life had been far greater in the tsunami tragedy but injuries were fewer.

"Victims were either drowned or they survived with limbs in place. The earthquake in a mountainous region is different than a shoreline phenomenon. Many arms and legs have been broken and even amputated. Livelihoods have been totally disrupted in the face of a harsh winter clime," he said.

US would be sending in 19 helicopters to Pak

Peter Verga, a Department of Defence official, told the congressional hearing that the US would be sending in 19 helicopters to Pakistan in addition to the twelve already assisting in relief operations in the country.

Terming Pakistan 'a close ally and an essential partner in the global war on terror,' Verga said that the Department of Defence was gratified to be able to assist the people of Pakistan in their time of need.

"President Musharraf and Pakistan have been extremely active in the campaign against international terrorism. The Department of Defence is gratified we are able to participate in this life-saving operation and to be able to assist the people of Pakistan in their time of great need," he said.

Echoing Verga's words, Michael Hess of the US Agency for International Development said that the disaster 'represents an opportunity to help a close and trusted ally in its time of need.'

Acknowledging contributions from many nations, including Pakistan and India, following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Hess said the US "Welcomes the opportunity to reciprocate."