We Need More, Says Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan, today accused the international community of double standards in not doing more to help the survivors of the Kashmir earthquake.

He said the international relief appeal had attracted fewer donations than those that followed the Indian Ocean tsunami or Hurricane Katrina because it had affected less western tourists.

General Musharaff also announced today he was postponing the purchase of F16 fighter jets from the US to provide more relief for earthquake victims. Pakistan had been expected to buy about 80 of the aircraft.

The United Nations says less than 25% of the required money has been raised. The World Food Programme yesterday warned it might have to scale back vital aid flights if it did not receive more donations.

It has asked for £56.2m over the next six months but has received only a tenth of that from donors. In a BBC interview broadcast today, Gen Musharraf said: "The tsunami - I think if one compares it realistically - I would think the damage here is much more. The magnitude of the calamity here is much more.

"But there it was spread to many countries. It affected many people from many countries of the world, especially the West who were tourists in various areas.

"Therefore so many countries directly got affected because of the casualties of their own country people and therefore the response of the world, I am presuming.

"Here, unfortunately, this is a remote area, poor people affected. I would appeal to the world to see reality - that it is these people who deserve aid much more."

Last month's earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, has killed about 80,000 people and left three million homeless.