Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif calls up PM Modi, praises India's relief efforts in Nepal

In the aftermath of the  earthquake  in Nepal which killed over 6000 people and also resulted in the loss of lives in parts of India, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on Thursday called up PM Narendra Modi and expressed his condolences on the lives lost in India. PM Modi tweeted about his interaction with Sharif this morning, stressing on the importance of SAARC nations to unite and conduct joint exercises on disaster relief and rescue. “Got a call from PM Nawaz Sharif. He expressed condolences on the loss of lives in various parts of India due to the earthquake,” Modi said in a tweet. Modi added that Sharif appreciated India’s efforts in the rescue operations in Nepal.

India has received praise for its relief and rescue operation from other countries also. Ambassador-designate of Nepal Deep Kumar Upadhyay on Tuesday had said, “India took the initiative in relief operations, which other countries followed. We are thankful to the government of India that it was kind enough to extend a ‘blank cheque’ after the shattering earthquake. It has done tremendous work to provide help.” US on Tuesday had also praised India’s leadership role in helping earthquake-hit Nepal and persons of different nationalities stranded in war-ravaged Yemen. “India has demonstrated its global leadership in recent weeks, first in Yemen and now in Nepal. We are grateful; we are impressed; we are inspired,” US Ambassafor to India Richard Verma had said. Nepal was hit by a massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale on April 25, killing over 5,000 people. The toll due to the earthquake in India has gone up to 78, while the number of injured people stands at 560, the government said on Wednesday. (With inputs from PTI)