KATHMANDU, Nov 2: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday offered help to Nepal in crushing a deadly Maoist revolt in the Himalayan kingdom.

"If Nepal wants, Pakistan is ready to extend all possible help in fighting the terrorists," the prime minister told a press conference here before his departure to Bhutan.

"Islamabad is ready to extend army and civilian training in Pakistan," he added. However, the prime minister did not elaborate on what other help Islamabad might extend to the world's only Hindu kingdom in combating the insurgency that has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 1996.

"Control of terrorism will be one of the main issues on the agenda during the 13th Saarc summit in Dhaka," he said. The prime minister also referred to a thaw in relations between Pakistan and India.

"Pakistan is convinced that all differences with India including the Kashmiri issue can be resolved through sincere and substantive dialogue," he said.-AFP

ARRIVAL IN BHUTAN: Prime Minister Aziz became the first Pakistani head of government on Tuesday to visite Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, after travelling 65km by road from Paro airport, adds our staff reporter Ahmed Hasan.

He was presented a guard of honour at the historic fort which houses offices of the king and the prime minister as well as the highest Buddhist monastery.

Later, speaking at a state banquet, Mr Aziz said the next Saarc summit scheduled to be held in Dhaka would set new goals, like the 12th summit which was able to explore new markets for intensifying and broadening regional cooperation.

The prime minister said that Pakistan endeavoured to pursue these goals with the cooperation of member countries.

The prime minister also spoke about the composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India and the confidence-building measures taken by both countries to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

"We intend to infuse this process with greater vigour and will pursue it in all sincerity," the premier said, adding that improvement in Pakistan-India relations would have a very positive impact on Saarc.

"We attach special significance to our relations with Bhutan, both in the bilateral context as well as in the framework of Saarc, and we wish to broaden the horizons of our bilateral cooperation."

The prime minister said there existed an immense reservoir of goodwill between the peoples of Pakistan and Bhutan which needed to be translated into closer economic and cultural cooperation.

More trade and investment by private sector and cooperation between the two countries would help a great deal in moving the process further, he added.

He said he had come to thank Bhutan for the cooperation it extended to Pakistan in steering the Saarc process. "We also wish to express our gratitude for the important contribution Bhutan has made in rejuvenating regional cooperation under the organization," he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Aziz had a meeting with King Jigme Singye Wangchuck at his office and discussed with him matters of bilateral cooperation.

TALKS WITH BHUTAN PM: Prime Minister Aziz and his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba held talks on bilateral relations, regional and international situation here on Tuesday evening, adds APP.

Welcoming Mr Aziz, the Bhutanese prime minister said bilateral relations in various fields would further improve as a result of Mr Aziz's visit to the kingdom. He hoped that Saarc would make further strides in bringing all the member states together.

Prime Minister Aziz said he had come here with a delegation of ministers and businessmen and it was for the first time that a Pakistani leader was visiting Bhutan.

Referring to his talks with the king of Bhutan, Shaukat Aziz said the king expressed the desire to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance economic and trade cooperation.

The prime minister said he would be happy to appoint a representative in Bhutan to promote trade, travel and economic relations.