(AFP) A Malaysian naval ship arrived in Karachi port in Pakistan today, ferrying doctors and relief supplies to Afghan refugees, a diplomat said.

KD Mahawangsa anchored at Karachi Port early today morning, the port authority and diplomatic sources confirmed.

"The ship has arrived and we are managing the further logistics," Malaysian defence attache to Islamabad Colonel Ismail Haji Karim told AFP .

The ship carried 461 tonnes of food, winter clothes and medicine. The supplies will be formally handed over to the United Nation High Commission for Refuges (UNHCR) and Pakistani authorities on Thursday for distribution.

Malaysian officials have said the country would bear all the expenses, totalling some 263,158 dollars.

Some 50 to 60 volunteer doctors were sent to treat Afghan refugees being sheltered at the Pakistani-Afghan border.

Defence Minister Najib Razak early this month said the government had decided to speed up delivery of relief supplies to Afghan refugee camps and nearby hospitals.

"It's a humanitarian aid mission sponsored 100 percent by Malaysians," Najib was quoted as saying.

Malaysia has condemned the September 11 terror attacks on the United States but also criticises the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan, saying it will kill innocent people without stamping out terrorism.

The Taliban are accused of harbouring Osama bin Laden, accused of plotting the September terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.