New Delhi/New York, Aug 20 (IANS): After vacillating for a week, Pakistan Friday accepted the Indian offer of $5 million aid for its flood victims. Welcoming Islamabad's decision, India said the aid was a "goodwill gesture of solidarity".

"I can share with you that the government of Pakistan has agreed to accept the Indian offer (of $5 million aid)," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters on the sidelines of a session at the UN headquarters in New York.

Qureshi thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his government and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna for this "very positive" gesture of extending aid and said it was highly appreciated by Pakistan. A large part of Pakistan has been hit by the worst-ever floods in the last eight decades that has left over 1,600 people dead and affected over 20 million.

New Delhi was quick to welcome Islamabad's decision to accept aid that was offered by Krishna during his telephonic conversation with Qureshi Aug 13.

"We welcome the decision by Pakistan to accept the offer of assistance that has been made," external affairs ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters in New Delhi.

"It is a goodwill offer, in the spirit of solidarity and goodwill for the people of Pakistan," he said, adding that Pakistan's acceptance has been conveyed to India.

"We believe that India and Pakistan share a common destiny and also that it is a common interest for both our countries to work towards having a cordial and cooperative relationship," he added.

Pakistan's decision to accept aid came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani Thursday.

When Pakistan was dithering over accepting Indian aid, the US early this week asked it to accept the aid, saying that politics should not come in the way of managing the aftermath of a disaster.