Pakistan sends coronavirus relief aid to Iraq

Personnel unload an aircraft carrying the first batch of doses of the Sinopharm vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after it arrived at Baghdad International Airport on March 2, 2021. (REUTERS)

• Pakistan-Iraq ties have tightened in the past few years through defense cooperation
• Another two airplanes with aid are going to be dispatched next week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday sent the first out of three airplanes with coronavirus relief aid for Iraq, the foreign office said.

Pakistan-Iraq relations have tightened in the past few years through defense cooperation, as Islamabad provided support to Iraqi security forces in their fight against Daesh. In 2014, Iraq purchased the Super Mushak trainer aircraft from Pakistan as part of improving defense ties.

In January this year, Defense Production Minister Zobaida Jalal visited Baghdad to discuss security cooperation.

"The government and people of Pakistan stand by their Iraqi brethren in this difficult time," the foreign office said in a statement.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge, which can only be contained with international solidarity and cooperation."

Another two airplanes with aid are going to be dispatched next week.