Commander-in-chief of US Central Command, General John Abizaid has said that US pilots, army personnel and other rescue and relief workers will stay in Pakistan as long as necessary to help Pakistan Army and people in rehabilitation of earthquake victims and rebuilding of infrastructure.
He was addressing a news conference at the PAF Chaklala Airbase after visiting the earthquake-devastated areas of Azad Kashmir, accompanied by Federal Relief Commissioner Major General Farooq Ahmed.
Abizaid said that the United States would play a vital role along with the international community to overcome the aftermath of the earthquake. He said no country could cope with such a large-scale tragedy alone.
The US commander said, "we are not against any country in the region. We are here only to help the people of the region, and the United States will provide all humanitarian and medical help and logistic and engineering support to Pakistan."
He said that the US would provide 25 more helicopters to beef up Pakistan Army's logistics' capability for relief efforts. 11 of these helicopters, being assembled in Afghanistan, will be landing in Pakistan within three or four days, he added.
Abizaid said that the US will provide every kind of support requested by the Pakistan Army to provide shelter to the homeless people, restore communication links and setting up field hospitals as all the injured people could not be evacuated.
Talking to newsmen, General Farooq said that according to latest data, 53,000 people have been killed, 70,000 seriously injured and houses and infrastructure over 25,000 square kilometres area are completed destroyed.
He thanked the US army for providing necessary humanitarian help, medical and engineering teams and logistic support for providing relief and medical aid to the survivors and rehabilitation of the infrastructure.