India, Pakistan ink quake aid pact after 9 months

The Indian foreign ministry said the assistance was part of a pledge made at an UN-sponsored donors' conference for the victims of the October 2005 earthquake, which razed tens of thousands of homes in Pakistan.

"A memorandum of understanding setting out the modalities for release of these funds to enable Pakistan to procure reconstruction material according to its requirements was signed today," the ministry said in a statement.

The aid was pledged by New Delhi one month after the earthquake, which also claimed 1,300 lives in Indian Kashmir. The reason for the delayed disbursement was not given.