Troops in helicopters brought badly needed relief supplies to flood-swamped villages in southwestern Pakistan, as the nationwide death toll from a week of heavy rain and snow climbed past 360.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan were hoping to ease visa restrictions and increase cross-border visits as senior officials met today in an effort to reduce decades of enmity between the two neighbours.

The British Islamic militant suspected of kidnapping American reporter Daniel Pearl could soon be extradited to face trial in the United States.