Minister of Defense Cao Gangchuan sent his sympathy and condolences to his Pakistani and Indian defense ministers over a devastating earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people and caused huge material losses in the two South Asian countries.

In a message of sympathy to Pakistani Defense Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal on Sunday, Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, offered his sympathies over the huge losses suffered by Pakistani people and the country's armed forces in the quake that hit large areas of South Asia on Saturday.

China's Ministry of Defense will offer US$100,000 in cash in emergency humanitarian aid to Pakistan for the rescue operations and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the disaster.

The Ministry of Defense and the armed forces of China have joined Chinese departments concerned in carrying out relief and rescue work in Pakistan.

In a separate message on Monday, Cao also expressed sympathy to Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee over the huge losses India suffered in the quake.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2005)