"Immense" was Sean McCormack's reply to, what he described as, "The challenges that the Pakistani people face."
He was responding to a question at the regular press briefing, on buying of F-16s by Pakistan.
The spokesman said he has seen the press reports about President Musharraf's comments. "I read them," he said adding that in his view it was for the Pakistan Government to talk about it.
"Certainly, the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani people are facing incredible challenges right now as not only they are still trying to deal with the relief phase in the aftermath of this tragic earthquake but also looking ahead to the reconstruction phase."
"And that is something," he stated "that we are going to be working closely, as well with the Pakistani government, as well as with the international community."
He referred to an International Conference coming up on November 19th "that we are going to be participating in."
As for purchase of F-16s, McCormack said the request for sale of F-16s "was originally made this past March, in 2005." He said Pakistan "wanted to move forward with the potential sale as part of the broadening of our relationship with Pakistan."
"How and when this sale actually moves forward is a - is really at this point up to the Government of Pakistan."
"So I would, out of respect for their desire to talk about this issue, I think that it would only be appropriate to let any comments regarding whether or not the sale is going to move forward come from the Government of Pakistan."
He said, it's a matter of ongoing discussion with the Pakistan Government. "But I would - in terms of whether or not the sale is going to move forward, I'd let them talk about it."
He said that the latest UN report is that it was over 200,000 people over there still not having received aid, the spokesman said: "this is a natural disaster of historic proportions. We, when we were - when we travelled with Dr Rice to Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, we saw just a small portion of the human suffering that this earthquake has caused. The challenges, as I said, that the Pakistani people face are immense. And the world has come to the aid of the Pakistani people with in-kind assistance, with assistance of helicopters and helicopter crews, with cash assistance not only for the immediate relief effort but as well as looking forward."
He said "there are still immediate needs for tents, I believe, and blankets as winter approaches in that region."
At this point, he said "what I would say is that the world and certainly the US government has responded with generous donations to the Pakistani people."
"But that said, there are going to be needs as a result of this earthquake in terms of reconstruction and even humanitarian relief that extend out for some time."
"So it is an issue that we are going to keep on looking at. We have high-level attention to this within the Department. Under Secretary Josette Shiner as well as Deputy Secretary Zoellick watch this issue very closely and we are going to continue doing what we can to help out the Pakistani people."