The government has deecided to lift the freeze on government-to-government development assistance to Pakistan.

When Pakistan carried out nuclear tests in 1998, the government decided to freeze all government-to-government development assistance to Pakistan that was not specifically poverty-oriented or designed to promote respect for human rights. Although Pakistan has not changed its status in relation to the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the government considers that in the current situation it would still be right to lift the freeze on aid. "This is our way of expressing our support for Pakistan, which is in a very difficult political and economic situation," said Minister of International Development Anne Kristin Sydnes.

Norway will continue to encourage Pakistan to sign and ratify the NPT and the CTBT.

The terrorist attacks on the USA on 11 September have caused greater tension in the region. The growing refugee disaster in Afghanistan will make considerable demands on Pakistan, which has already taken in two million Afghan refugees in spite of its own economic difficulties.

"The form that our development cooperation will take will be decided after consultations with the Pakistani authorities, and will be in keeping with the general guidelines for Norwegian development cooperation," said the Minister.