ANKARA: Aid is coming from different parts of the world to Turkey, which is still reeling from the shock of the earthquake. India has so far sent rescue team and relief materials in seven flights from India as part of ‘Operation Dost’. Turkey has expressed its gratitude many times for the assistance provided by India. At the same time, some moves of Turkey irritates Pakistan who is their close ally. One of them was the cancellation of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Turkey.

Pakistan Prime Minister's visit to Turkey was scheduled before the earthquake. The visit was highly anticipated by Pakistan as they expected a financial assistance from Turkey as the county was struggling in economic crisis. But Turkey postponed the Pakistan Prime Minister's visit saying that they are busy with earthquake rescue and relief work. But at the same time Turkey allowed the visit of the Emir of Qatar with a high-level delegation two days later.

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Turkey last Sunday and met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Before arriving in Turkey, Qatar had donated 50 million Qatar Riyals to the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. Rescue materials, including 10,000 temporary houses, were also delivered to Turkey airport by Qatar. This is what made Turkey, who said no to Pakistan, to say yes to Qatar Emir’s visit.

At the same time, the Pakistan army says that Pakistan has delivered aid to the earthquake-ravaged people of Turkey and Syria in two military planes. Following this, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed that an anonymous Pak citizen had donated $30 million to Turkey-Syria earthquake victims. Many people came forward mocking this remark of Sharif. Meanwhile, the death toll from earthquakes in Turkey and Syria rose to 37,000 on Sunday.