NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Former Indian prime minister and veteran politician P.V. Narasimha Rao died of cardiac arrest on Thursday afternoon. He was 83. Mr Rao was under treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi where he had been admitted on Dec 8.

A veteran politician of Congress, Mr Rao remained prime minister from 1991 to 1996. He was the first Indian premier outside the Nehro-Gandhi family to complete his tenure.

External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said in a statement that the country had lost a statesman, respected all over the world, and the Congress party a veteran leader, whose wisdom and sagacity were well known.

CONDOLENCES: President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz expressed sorrow over the passing away of Mr Rao. In separate condolences messages, they said Mr Rao would be remembered for his endeavours towards improvement of relations between Pakistan and India. -Agencies