TOKYO, Oct 11: Japan said on Tuesday that it would offer $20 million and was ready to dispatch several transport helicopters and dozens of troops to assist with relief efforts in the earthquake disaster zone.

“The Self-Defence Force is planning to send around 100 or more troops to Pakistan with a few transport helicopters” in response to President Pervez Musharraf’s plea for help, a defence agency official said.

Cuban President Fidel Castro, in a letter to President Musharraf released by official media in Havana, offered to send 200 doctors to Pakistan to help treat victims of the earthquake.

He said the doctors would be ready to leave for Pakistan within 24 hours.

Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, in a condolence message, expressed deep sorrow and grief with President Musharraf over the devastation and loss of lives and extended deep sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families.

Two Egyptian military planes carrying relief goods are scheduled to reach Pakistan on Wednesday. Nepal offered $50,000 in relief and expressed sorrow over the deaths and destruction.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent his condolences to the leaders of three countries struck by the earthquake and pledged $60,000 in assistance.

Rescue teams from Germany, Turkey, Russia, the UK, France, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, China and Japan have been working in the affected areas for two days.—Agencies