PM Narendra Modi speaks to Nawaz Sharif after quake; offers help, condolences

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the chill in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached out to Pakistan in the wake of the major earthquake as he called up Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and offered assistance besides condolences for the loss of lives.

"Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & expressed condolences on the loss of lives due to the quake. Offered all possible assistance from India," Modi tweeted.

Pakistan was severely affected by today's 7.5 magnitude earthquake, whose epicentre was in Jarm area in north Afghanistan.

Modi also thanked Sharif for ensuring return of Geeta, the differently-abled girl who had crossed over to Pakistan many years ago, and came back home today.

"Expressed my gratitude to PM Nawaz Sharif for his efforts that ensured Geeta returned home," Modi said in another tweet.

Modi reached out to Pakistan despite the frosty relations between the two countries and the renewed cross-border firing by Pakistan in which one civilian has been killed in Jammu and Kashmir and several others injured, besides leading to a scare in the border villages.

Sharif also has been criticising India at international fora like at the UN and in his meeting with US President Barack Obama last week.