ISLAMABAD: The United States (U.S.) has delivered critical flood relief supplies to Pakistan as the country faces catastrophic flooding that has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced millions.
According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, shipments of food, shelter materials, and lifesaving equipment arrived at Nur Khan Air Base on Saturday aboard C-17 and C-130 military aircraft. The first relief supplies were handed over directly to the Pakistan Army.
U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker was present to receive the aid and extended her deepest condolences to the families affected by the disaster. She reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to supporting Pakistan during this crisis.
“The Department of State and the U.S. military approved foreign assistance funding and critical supplies to augment national response efforts in the hardest-hit areas,” Baker said.
Flood devastation across Pakistan
The devastating floods, triggered by weeks of heavy rains since late June, have severely impacted multiple provinces, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Azad Kashmir. Nationwide, the death toll has surpassed 900, and nearly 3,900 villages in Punjab alone remain submerged. Millions of Pakistanis have been forced to flee their homes as floodwaters continue to rise.
Improving Pakistan-U.S. relations
This humanitarian aid arrives amid a noticeable warming of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and the United States. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has engaged in multiple high-level discussions this year with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, including a July meeting in Washington.
Both sides have praised the “positive trajectory” of bilateral relations. In late July, the U.S. reduced tariffs on Pakistani exports to 19 percent and initiated talks on cooperation in strategic oil reserves—moves viewed as significant steps toward deeper economic and diplomatic partnership.
