After the deluge

Ravaged by the worst flood in its history,one that left about 20 million people homeless and devastated physical infrastructure,Pakistan needs all the help it can get. Indias offer of 5 million for relief efforts is the only decent response in the situation,belated and somewhat modest as it may be. The slowness to respond was certainly conspicuous even if it stemmed from a sensitivity that our offer might be refused. However,whether or not Pakistan accepts the aid,India is duty-bound to extend it. In fact,it is startling that a disaster of this magnitude has been largely ignored so far in India,both officially and otherwise it has barely scraped public consciousness.

This deluge,after all,has been of epic proportions causing more damage to Pakistan than all four of its wars with India and has hit its most vulnerable,poverty-stricken areas hardest. In highly sensitive Khyber-Pakhtoonwa,bridges and roads have been washed away,crops and power-lines destroyed,and millions of people displaced again. Southern Punjab and northern Sindh are in a bad way,food prices have shot up,and communications infrastructure has collapsed. As with any flood of this scale,the next stage is likely to be even more heartbreaking,and India could certainly chip in with the challenges of infectious illness and clean-up efforts,sending medical missions and teams to help with reconstruction. It is also uniquely positioned to help with international agencies efforts to send aid to Pakistan.

It is certain that this havoc will have a direct impact on Pakistans internal politics,which are of immense consequence for the rest of the world. Civil-military relations are at a delicate juncture,and social tensions have sharpened. Pakistans President Zardari has been slammed from all sides for swanning around in Europe when the floods hit,and also embroiled in the charge that his government diverted more than 300 million pounds from aid meant for earthquake relief in 2005 which might deter donors now. This calamity is certain to play a role in Pakistans political progress,one way or the other,and it will

only hurt India if it is not alert to the repercussions.