Bhutto criticised the response of President Pervez Musharraf's military regime to the October 8 disaster as too slow and claimed a civilian government would have been "more responsive" to people's needs.

"When the earthquake took place in ... a political faultline (Kashmir), the Indian government offered to help Pakistan but initially we refused the help," Bhutto told BBC television.

"Now, when people are dying, you don't really look at who's offering the help. You take it. The first issue should be to help the people."

India and Pakistan agreed last month to open five border crossing points along the UN-designated Line of Control dividing Kashmir between the two countries.

The accord -- signed after the 7.6-magnitude quake that killed more than 73,000 people in northern Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir and left millions homeless -- also allowed aid convoys to access the region.

Bhutto -- who governed Pakistan between 1988 and 1990 and again from 1993 to 1995 -- drew comparison with earthquakes in Turkey, when Greece was swift in offering help.

Stating that the Pakistan earthquake should have been a "healing moment" for Kashmir, she said of the developments on the border: "It was too little, too late".

"Not enough advantage was taken of the momentum for bringing people together that could have taken place."

Bhutto said a military regime was concerned primarily with security whereas "a political regime believes in peace, so the borders aren't tense and they can really use the resources of the state on the poor people".

"There are dangers inherent in a military regime which make it difficult to be responsive to the needs of the people."

Bhutto -- who lives in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai and is currently facing money laundering allegations, which she strenously denies -- also called for an increased aid effort to affected regions as winter sets.

She also expressed fear that if not enough was done, extremist groups could fill the "vacuum".

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