ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health ministry has said the country had not yet reported any cases of the “Indian strain” of the coronavirus considered to be responsible for a catastrophic second wave of the pandemic in its South Asian neighbor.
India recorded more than 320,000 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday as a grim surge of illness and death ripped through the country.
Syed Sajid Shah, a spokesperson for the Pakistani health ministry, told reporters on Monday the country was still “safe” from the Indian variant while cases of the UK variant were being reported in Pakistan.
Pakistan has already banned land and air travel from India, citing concerns about the spread of the Indian coronavirus variant.
Last week, Pakistan offered “relief support” to India as hospitals in the neighboring nation begged for oxygen supplies and coronavirus infections soared.
“As a gesture of solidarity with the people of India in the wake of the current wave of COVID-19, Pakistan has offered to provide relief support to India,” the Pakistani foreign office said, including ventilators, BiPap machines that can help push air into the lungs, digital X ray machines, personal protective equipment and related items.
“Concerned authorities of Pakistan and India can work out modalities for quick delivery of the relief items,” the statement said. “They can also explore possible ways of further cooperation to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.”
‘Indian variant’ of coronavirus not yet reported in Pakistan — health ministry
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‘Indian variant’ of coronavirus not yet reported in Pakistan — health ministry
- India recorded over 320,000 new infections Tuesday as a grim surge of illness and death weighed on the country
- Pakistan has offered to send ventilators, BiPap machines, digital X ray machines, personal protective equipment
Pakistan backs Yemen unity, supports Riyadh talks amid regional tensions
- Pakistan urges Yemeni stakeholders to work ‘in good faith’ toward a negotiated political solution
- Ishaq Dar discusses regional situation with the Saudi and Emirati foreign ministers from Beijing
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday welcomed a call by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council for political dialogue in Riyadh among all factions on the ground, reaffirming its support for Yemen’s unity following a “limited” airstrike by a Saudi-led coalition targeting weapons shipments from the United Arab Emirates to the port city of Mukalla in southern Yemen.
The coalition forces spokesperson said the weapons were meant to support the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces, backed by the UAE, in Yemen’s Hadramaut and Al-Mahra “with the aim of fueling the conflict.”
Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, requested the Saudi authorities hold a conference bringing together all factions in southern Yemen, prompting the Kingdom to invite them “to develop a comprehensive vision” for the future.
“Pakistan welcomes the call by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council to hold comprehensive talks in Riyadh and once again urges all Yemeni stakeholders to engage in good faith toward a negotiated political solution based on agreed parameters,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Pakistan reaffirms its steadfast support for the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen,” it added.
The diplomatic messaging was reinforced by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who spoke separately by phone from Beijing with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The foreign office said Dar welcomed the Saudi foreign ministry’s recent statement on Yemen and expressed appreciation for efforts by all sides to resolve the regional situation amicably, while also noting that dialogue and diplomacy had produced “tangible outcomes on the ground.”
Dar arrived in Beijing earlier in the day, where he is due to co-chair the 7th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Wang Yi on Sunday. He will also attend events marking the start of the 75th year of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, with commemorative initiatives planned throughout 2026.
