Japan offers 20 mln dollars, helicopters to Pakistan

TOKYO, Tuesday (AFP) Japan said Tuesday it would offer 20 million dollars in aid to Pakistan and was ready to dispatch several transport helicopters and dozens of troops to assist with relief efforts in the earthquake disaster zone.

"The Self-Defense Force is planning to send around 100 or more troops to Pakistan along with a few transport helicopters" in response to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's plea for help, a defense agency official said.

Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said the 20-million-dollar aid offer was decided at Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

Japanese Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono said earlier his agency was ready to send several transport helicopters to Pakistan to join emergency relief efforts after Saturday's devastating weekend quake.

Japan is consulting with relevant organizations including the Pakistani government on the possible deployment of the helicopters and troops, a defense agency spokeswoman added.

Japan said over the weekend it had offered to Pakistan emergency aid materials worth 25 million yen (225,000 dollars), including blankets, tents, water purifiers and power generators.