Clinton hints at corruption being behind slow international aid response to Pak deluge

Washington, Aug.20 (ANI): US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton has hinted that corruption could be the main reason behind the world's slow response in giving aid to flood-hit Pakistan, and called it a 'cancer that eats away the body politic and diverts resources from where they were intended'.

In an interview with The Dawn, Clinton picked her words carefully while pointing fingers towards the prevalent corruption in the Pakistan government.

"I would say save lives. Save property. Do what we can. Corruption, unfortunately, has been with us, is with us and always be with us. It must be attacked and it must be rooted out but I don't think it does a service to the people who are suffering to have some diversionary side conversation about corruption," she said while replying to a question regarding the media's allegations that corruption had emerged as the major reason for the world's reluctance to help Pakistan amidst the catastrophe.

"Let us get as much done and as quickly as possible. Let us be sure that the funds flow where they are intended to," Clinton said.

Clinton stressed that the Obama administration wants to see Pakistan's 'democratic' set up flourish and deliver to the people of the country.

"Corruption is a cancer that eats away the body politic, and unfortunately it diverts resources from where they were intended," she said.

The top US diplomat also said that she understood that the Pakistan Army had to divert its resources from the war on terror to attend to the flood victims even though it might hurt the war, and added that it was necessary to do so. (ANI)