KATHMANDU, March 11: Pakistan was ready to supply arms Nepal needs to fight Maoist rebels, it’s envoy to Kathmandu said on Friday, a move that could upset India and Britain who have stopped military supplies to the Himalayan nation.

India and Britain stopped military aid to Nepal’s poorly equipped forces after King Gyanendra sacked the government and declared a state of emergency on Feb 1, saying political leaders had failed to end the Maoist revolt and restore peace.

“We have offered possibilities of training. We are also ready to provide arms if that is required by Nepal,” outgoing Pakistani ambassador Zamir Akram told state-run The Rising Nepal daily. “We, within the SAARC level and at the bilateral level, have offered an exchange of information,” he added, referring to the South Asian Association.

Mr Akram did not give details of arms Islamabad was willing to give Nepal which needs anything from boots for its 80,000 soldiers to helicopters to ferry troops and attack guerilla hideouts in rugged hills and jungles. “We have developed some kind of expertise, especially in the use of high-tech equipment ... we are ready to share our experience and, hopefully, this will help Nepal,” Mr Akram said.

India, which is also Nepal’s largest trading partner, has supplied arms, trucks, mine-proof vehicles, helicopters and training to soldiers.

Last month, India and Britain suspended military aid to Nepal after King Gyanendra seized power, firing the government, imposing emergency rule and vowing to tackle the Maoist uprising that has claimed 11,000 lives since 1996.

The United States is mulling similar action amid reports Gyanendra is considering turning to neighbouring China for arms if the flow of weaponry to help Nepal’s army battle the Maoist rebels dries up.—Reuters/AFP