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As India grapples with COVID-19, Pakistan extends support, prayers

· Written by R Umaima Ahmed

Categories: South Asia, Bangladesh, India, Citizen Media, Disaster, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, International Relations, Media & Journalism, Politics, War & Conflict
Image by Grubb via Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 3.0. [1]

Pakistan and India. Image by Grubb [1] via Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 3.0 [2].

In the last few weeks, India has seen a staggering spike in COVID-19 infection [3] and death rates, highlighted by news of lack of oxygen in hospitals and images of rows of burning pyres. On April 29, India reported [4] another global record of 3,79,257 new COVID-19 cases and 3645 deaths in the past 24 hours, while experts are saying that [5] the real numbers may be higher than the official counts.

As Indian health infrastructure struggles to contain the crisis and Indians seek help on social media [6] in search for essential drugs and oxygen cylinders, an offer of support [7] and resources came from an unexpected government: neighbouring Pakistan, with whom India has a longstanding rivalry.

While India is yet to respond to Pakistan's offer, Twitterati on both sides of the border have expressed solidarity [8], resulting in amiable hashtag trends such as #PakistanStandsWithIndia, [9] an uncommon stance between the two states. Some Indian actors have thanked Pakistan [10] for their support.

South Asian neighbours India and Pakistan have had a tumultuous relationship [11], complicated by their historical wars [12] and nuclear-armed statuses. Past attempts to reconcile this relationship have worsened [13] over the Kashmir crisis, which both countries lay claim on. Hence, support from Pakistani citizens during India’s moment of crisis received widespread appreciation with the hashtag #PakistanStandsWithIndia going viral [14].

Putting aside their differences, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted:

Extending a message of ‘humanity first [16]‘, Pakistani's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi offered on 24 April to provide relief support including ventilators, Bi-PAP, digital X-ray machines and personal protective equipment.

COVID-19 in Pakistan

As Pakistan fights its own battle with COVID-19 [17], having reported 815,711 cases, 708,193 people have recovered while 17,680 have died since last year. So far, Pakistan has administered 1.84 million vaccine [18] doses and another one million doses of vaccine were airlifted from China [19].

Given the rising cases in India, Pakistan's Interior Ministry issued a notification [20] on Sunday, April 25 that allowed the Provinces and Federal Territories to seek the Army's help to enforce standard operating procedures [21] (SOPs) in public spaces to curb the spread of the virus.

As images of Indians’ struggle with COVID-19 [22] went viral, Indians were mobilizing help using shareable Google spreadsheets, amplifying voices on social media [6] for help and creating solidarity networks.

Officials and state protocols aside, the two nations were also brought closer by the crisis. Chairman of Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation, a Pakistani non-government humanitarian organisation, wrote a letter [23] to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23rd April, expressing concern over the rapidly-deteriorating scale of COVID-19 crisis and offering to send 50 ambulances.

Head of Edhi Foundation, Faisal Edhi wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering help. He would send 50 ambulances and a team of volunteers to help India at such a time.

Social media users welcomed the decision and supported the thawing of cold ties between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

Usama Khilji, director of Bolo Bhi [33], a digital rights search organization, lauded the efforts, saying:

Even celebrities encouraged the rapprochment. Pakistani Cricketer Shoaib Akhtar tweeted:

But not everyone welcomed this rapprochement. Criticizing Edhi's chairman, Faisal Edhi, for offering India support, Twitter user Shahaal Malyk wrote:

Vishal Manve [45] contributed to this post.