News Analysis: Nepal disaster prompts India, Pakistan to call for regional cooperation in disaster management

In the wake of the two huge earthquakes that hit Nepal, countries in the region, including Pakistan and India, have called for greater cooperation in disaster management to save lives and minimize damage to properties.

The two quakes, with one of 7.9-magnitude hitting Nepal on April 25 and another of 7.5-magnitude on May 12, have killed more than 8,000 people and damaged properties worth billions of dollars.

All the countries in the region, led by China, immediately sent assistance, search, rescue and medical teams, to help in the relief and rescue operations in Nepal, a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Pakistan and India were also among those that dispatched rescue and medical teams to Nepal.

In fact, it was rare that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi over the phone in which the two leaders underscored the need for greater cooperation among the regional countries in disaster response and management.

Sharif and Modi, leaders of countries which themselves are not unfamiliar with natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, have to forget their differences and pledged to help Nepal rise from the massive devastation caused by the two quakes.

Both Pakistan and India are leading members of SAARC, a regional group aimed at promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Shortly after Sharif called Modi, the latter posted on his official Twitter account that he suggested to his Pakistani counterpart that the SAARC nations should conduct regular joint exercises on disaster relief and rescue operations. "SAARC nations can come together and hold annual exercises of rescue and medical teams, etcetera on how we can minimize damage during natural disasters," the Indian prime minister said.

Nawaz Sharif appreciated Modi's suggestions, saying that indeed it is about time that the two countries should take up such an initiative.

The two leaders also discussed the unseasonal rains and its adverse impact on agricultural crops in both countries.

One local analyst said that the phone conversation between the two key South Asian leaders is a clear indication that despite the traditional diplomatic differences, both Pakistan and India are willing to set aside their differences in times of catastrophes and natural disasters.

Speakers at a recent roundtable held here entitled "Natural Disasters and SAARC Protocols: Lessons for Pakistan" said greater regional cooperation between SAARC member states, as well as trust, are vital prerequisites for timely and effective disaster response and humanitarian relief in South Asia.

Participants in the forum organized by the Jinnah Institute cited the example of the ASEAN agreement on disaster management and response as a good model for managing regional disasters. "The ASEAN model falls within the framework of a larger socio- economic charter, and benefited from the level of trust between ASEAN member states. Such a model would serve South Asia well provided there is respect for the sovereignty of individual members," one discussant said.

Prime Minister Sharif, who was on an official visit to Britian when the first earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, spoke with Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala by phone to offer all-out assistance. Pakistan was the first among the few countries to reach the devastated Nepal.

Pakistan has experience in dealing with a disaster of such magnitude. In 2005, the country was hit by a strong earthquake that killed many people in the northwest and the country's administered-Kashmir.

Within hours after the prime minister's instructions, civilian and military personnel were mobilized for the rescue and retrieval operations. The Pakistan Air Force sent four C-130 aircraft loaded with food, medicines, tents, and other items. The Pakistani assistance consisted of a 50-member team of doctors, surgeons, paramedics and technicians, 38-member Pakistan Army's urban search and rescue team with equipment, including the rubble penetrating radars, sniffing dogs, and a 30-bed hospital.

Later in response to the Nepal government's request, the prime minister further approved provision of 20,000 tents and 20 tons of rice which were brought to Nepal by two C-130 planes.

The prime minister has also established an exclusive Relief Fund for Nepal that is rare in Pakistan. Advertisements have been published in all Pakistani dailies, urging people to donate to the PM's relief fund. In all Pakistani diplomatic missions, relief fund accounts have been opened where Pakistanis abroad could donate to the relief fund. Endi