Taliban thank Pakistan, other friendly countries for helping quake-hit Afghanistan

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani on Friday thanked Pakistan, UAE, India and other friendly countries and aid organisations for helping the people of Afghanistan hit by the recent deadly earthquake.

In an official statement, the interim government’s interior minister said earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters are a test from the Almighty.

“We too are enduring this ordeal like the other hardships in the past. We are patient and stand with our people. We will always remember those who gave us their helping hand in the difficult time.”

Haqqani also thanked the humanitarian organisations and philanthropists “from the bottom of our heart who have helped the earthquake victims in Paktika and Khost provinces and sent messages of condolences”.

“We pray for such a safe and secure world in which all the people live in relief and dignity,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Afghanistan lacks the medical supplies to treat those injured in an earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people this week, a senior official said, as an aftershock on Friday killed five more.

Authorities earlier ended a search in remote southeastern mountains for survivors of the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck early on Wednesday near the Pakistani border, about 160km southeast of Kabul, the capital.

Also read: Afghanistan seeks emergency medical supplies for earthquake survivors

About 2,000 people were injured and 10,000 homes partially or entirely destroyed in Wednesday's earthquake, Mohammad Nassim Haqqani, a spokesperson for Afghanistan's disaster ministry, told Reuters.

The disaster is a major test for the country’s rulers, who have been largely isolated, shunned by many because of concerns over human rights and cut off from much direct international assistance because of sanctions.

On Thursday, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates all said they planned to send aid. Supplies from Pakistan have already crossed the border.

India, which has strained ties with the Taliban, said it had sent 27 tonnes of supplies on two flights to be handed to international aid agencies.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has rushed tonnes of supplies and expert staff to support the relief effort.

(With input from Reuters)