Islamabad:
In Pakistan's worst humanitarian crisis, 20 million people are displaced by floods that have inundated the country. And yet, for a country desperate for international aid, Islamabad's refusal to accept India's five million dollar offer has baffled many.
For India, the aid offer is purely on humanitarian terms. It is also ready to render more help if required, said the Prime Minister.
On Friday, Manmohan Singh reached out and called up his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani. He offered his condolences and reminded him of the Indian Government's offer saying India was ready to do more
But, what appears like a virtual snub to the PM's offer, Abdul Basit, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesman, spoke to NDTV saying " We appreciate the Indian Prime Minister's gesture...but there is still no decision on accepting the aid from India."
Critics now say that India doesn't need to beg before Islamabad to take the aid
"there was no need for the PM to reiterate the offer," said K C Singh, former secretary, MEA.
The Obama administration too has stepped in saying politics should not come in the way.
"In terms of responding to a disaster, politics should play no role. You have a country (India) that's willing to help (Pakistan), and we expect that Pakistan will accept," said Philip Crowley, US State Department Spokesman
Interestingly, both countries exchanged aid during the massive earthquake that hit the two parts of Kashmir in 2005 but clearly, the recent chill in the relationship has made things more complicated.