Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 162 Wed. November 03, 2004  
   
International


Pak PM pledges help to Nepal in tackling Maoist revolt


Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz offered help yesterday to Nepal in crushing a deadly Maoist revolt in the Himalayan kingdom.

Aziz, who holds the rotating chairmanship of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, was in Nepal as part of a tour of Saarc nations before a summit in January of the seven member countries.

"If Nepal wants, Pakistan is ready to extend all possible help in fighting the terrorists," Aziz told a press conference.

Islamabad was ready "to extend army and civilian training in Pakistan", he said.

Aziz, who arrived Monday in Nepal, did not elaborate on what other help the Islamic nation might extend to the world's only Hindu kingdom in combating the insurgency that has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 1996.