NATO: Pakistan disaster relief mission over

The NATO commander overseeing its operations in Pakistan today said the alliance’s disaster relief mission was complete, and it was to leave on schedule.

Assisting in the aftermath of the October 8 quake was the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s second ever relief mission, following assistance provided to Hurricane Katrina victims in the United States.

“We were asked to stay until February 1, and as good guests, we’re leaving,” said Air Commodore Andrew Walton.

“What’s we’ve proved is that NATO is not a bad organisation,” he said.

Some in Pakistan had feared NATO would use quake efforts to establish a base in Kashmir, which is claimed in its entirety by both Pakistan and India.

About 87,000 people were killed when a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Pakistani-administered Kashmir and the country’s North Western Frontier Province. Another 1,350 were killed in India’s portion of Kashmir.