The foreign ministry announcement came hours after the two South Asian rivals opened the fifth and final crossing for aid supplies to pass across the ceasefire Line of Control (LoC) which splits Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

The Indian foreign ministry said relief material would be sent by rail Thursday as part of humanitarian aid offered by New Delhi to Islamabad following the October 8 earthquake which killed 73,000 people in Pakistan.

"The train will carry relief material weighing 600 tonnes and will consist of snow tents, sleeping bags, blankets, essential medicines and medical equipment including injections such as Pethidine for pain and X-ray machines, among others," it said.

"These 600 tonnes are in addition to about 300 tonnes of relief sent to Pakistan as official assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and 400 tonnes carried by 45 trucks and handed over to Pakistani authorities so far across the LoC," the ministry said in a statement.

Some 1,300 people were killed and 5,000 others were injured in the 7.6-strength earthquake in the Indian zone of the divided Himalayan territory.

Earlier Wednesday, Indian and Pakistani officials exchanged relief items including blankets and rations at the fifth opening on the LoC.

Each of the five crossing points would open once-a-week, initially for relief supplies, and then people.

Pakistan's foreign ministry on Monday said it had approved the names of 83 Kashmiris whom India had approved for crossing the LoC, while it had sent a list of 70 Pakistani Kashmiris to India.

The move to open the crossings after almost 60 years was seen as a boost to the peace process between the historic enemies, who have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express