Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee telephoned King Gyanendra Wednesday and “offered whatever assistance is required in its fight against terrorism,” an official announcement said in New Delhi. Vajpayee offered such a assurance to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in a similar conversation.

“We have extended our support to the government of Nepal for the steps it has taken to maintain peace and security in the country,” Indian External Affairs spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said.

Indian press reports said Nepal has requested Lancer light attack helicopters along with ammunition, artillery pieces, engineering equipment, vehicles and other military hardware to fight the Maoists.

India is a major supplier of military hardware to Nepal.