ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: American Ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell has expressed her sorrow and grief over the tragic air crash in which Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, Begum Bilquis Mir and other senior PAF officers and crew lost their lives.

Talking to journalists at the inauguration ceremony of American Discovery Centre for children in Mulpur School here on Friday she said: “Pakistan has not yet formally asked the US government for assistance in the investigation of the air crash.”

She said the US government would consider if Pakistan submits a formal request in this regard.

KHATAMI: Iranian President Syed Mohammad Khatami in a message to President Pervez Musharraf said: “While expressing condolence and sympathy to Your Excellency as well as the noble people of Pakistan, I pray to Almighty Allah for forgiveness and Divine blessings for the deceased, and patience and fortitude for the survivors.”

KARZAI: The Afghan President Hamid Karzai in his message to President Musharraf expressed his heartfelt grief and shock over the tragedy.

“On behalf of the people, government of transitional Islamic state of Afghanistan and on my own behalf, I would like to express deepest sorrow and condolences to Your Excellency and to the families of the victims and to the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the message said.

The Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah has also sent a condolence message to Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri.

IAF: The Indian Air Chief S. Krishnaswamy in his condolence message to the Acting Pakistan Air Chief, Air Marshal Syed Qaiser Hussain, Mr Krishnaswamy conveyed sympathies on behalf of the IAF and his own behalf on the sudden and untimely demise of Mushaf Ali Mir. An air-force spokesman said here the air attache in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Group Captain Murlidharan attended the funeral.—APP