Second IAF plane to Pak on standby

A second IAF transport aircraft has been put on standby to transport 25 tons of supplies to Islamabad. The IAF awaits clearance from the Ministry for External Affairs and the Ilyushin-76 heavy transporter is likely to leave from Palam air force station with its load of tents, blankets, plastic sheets and dry rations by Saturday.

‘‘The date for its departure has not yet been fixed but it is likely to take off in the next two-three days. We are waiting for clearances,’’ said Air Vice Marshal S C Mukul, Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) of the IAF.

The first aircraft landed in Islamabad just before 3 am this morning with an initial consignment of 15,000 blankets, 50 tents, plastic sheets and dry rations, the first such relief contribution since the 1971 war.

Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shiv Shankar Menon formally received the supplies and handed them over to Pakistani officials. New Delhi has also offered to assist Pakistan in sectors along the LoC in PoK .