INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan&s acting Prime Minister Hasan Akhund chaired an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning following the
deadly 6.1 magnitude earthquake that hit eastern Khost in the early hours of the morning.By mid-morning Wednesday officials had confirmed
almost 300 people had been killed and a further 600 injured in Paktika and Khost provinces.It was decided at the emergency meeting that
affected families of those killed be given cash assistance and that the wounded need urgent treatment
Authorities were also instructed to use ground and air transport to deliver food, clothing, medicine and other essential items to those
affected.Pakistan said early Wednesday that it stands in solidarity with Afghans
The ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement the &government and people of Pakistan extend deepest condolences and sympathies over
the loss of precious lives and damage to property caused by the tragic earthquake in Paktika province of Afghanistan and its adjoining
areas, and torrential floods in various provinces across the country.&Pakistan also said its &authorities and institutions are working to
extend required assistance to Afghanistan in coordination with their relevant institutions.&Pakistan&s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif
meanwhile tweeted that he is &deeply grieved to learn about earthquake in Afghanistan, resulting in loss of innocent lives
People in Pakistan share the grief - sorrow of their Afghan brethren
Relevant authorities working to support Afghanistan in this time of need.&The European Union&s special envoy for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson
also responded early Wednesday and said: &The EU is monitoring the situation and stands ready to coordinate and provide EU emergency
assistance to people and communities affected.&The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) meanwhile
said search and rescue operations are ongoing and are being led by the IEA authorities.&The UN and humanitarian partners have been requested
to support the de facto disaster management authority in assessing and responding to immediate needs,& UNOCHA tweeted.According to them,
inter-agency assessment teams have already been deployed to a number of affected areas and that the UN and humanitarian country team in
Afghanistan expresses deep sympathy to all people affected by this disaster.IEA spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid has meanwhile confirmed that in
coordination with the Ministry of Defense, personnel from regional units have reached areas worst affected by the earthquake and are
transporting the injured to hospitals.The post Death toll likely to climb following deadly 6.1 earthquake in Afghanistan first appeared on
