JM GOWLAND appears to question the rationale and ethics of foreign aid to Pakistan in one of his frequent attention-seeking contributions to this paper (HAS, May 20).
Most of the aid we give to poorer countries goes towards the education and health-care of ordinary people, especially the children and older persons, not terrorists or politicians.
Aid is the best instrument for protecting these vulnerable people from indoctrination and exploitation by extremist groups, thereby providing us with a better security shield.
The oft-quoted “charity begins at home” is the most abused reason for not helping others in the global village we inhabit.
We are all citizens of the world, not little islanders denuded of charity and altruism.
Dr Abdul Jaleel, Darlington.
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