Islamabad (TDI): Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday visited the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad to express solidarity after the recent earthquakes in Afghanistan that left thousands dead and injured.
Gandapur met Afghan Ambassador Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, conveyed his deepest condolences, and offered Fatiha for the victims. He said the tragedy had caused profound grief in Pakistan and assured the Afghan envoy of all possible support for the affected families.
Ambassador Shakeeb thanked the K-P government and Gandapur personally for their gesture, saying both the Afghan leadership and people were “sincerely grateful” for Pakistan’s assistance.
Earlier this month, Pakistan dispatched 105 tons of relief supplies to Afghanistan, a commitment made by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar during a phone conversation with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on September 4.
During the Islamabad meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on bilateral ties, regional peace, and the challenges faced by Afghan nationals returning home. Gandapur said his government was extending facilities and support to those crossing back into Afghanistan, while issues under federal jurisdiction had been raised with Islamabad.
Read More: Tajikistan Dispatches 3,000 Tons of Quake Aid to Afghanistan
“Dialogue is the only path to sustainable peace,” Gandapur stressed, adding that both governments must work together to promote trade, create jobs, and counter terrorism. He said enhanced cross-border commerce could generate economic opportunities on both sides of the frontier.
Since August 31, two powerful earthquakes have struck Afghanistan, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring over 3,600. Thousands of homes were flattened, with landslides triggered by aftershocks cutting off mountain communities from rescue workers.
Read More: Pakistan Sends 105 Tonnes of Aid to Quake-Hit Afghanistan
The first tremor, a magnitude 6 quake, hit Kunar and Nangarhar provinces at a shallow depth of 10 km, causing widespread damage. A second quake, measuring 5.5, rattled the same region two days later, hampering relief operations and sparking panic among survivors.
