Pakistan failing to provide relief work to hundreds of thousands effected in the quake but refuses to allow Indian relief efforts rescue the helpless Kashmiris
Sudhir Chadda
Oct. 11, 2005

It is time for Pakistan to consider allowing Indian relief workers into Pakistan held Kashmir so that Kashmiris can be saved from the agony of the quake. There is shortage of blankets, shelters, water, food and medicine. While Indian relief workers are reaching the remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, little hope is seen for hundreds of thousands effected in the Pakistan held Kashmir.

Pakistan today ruled out joint relief operations with India in quake-hit Kashmir region and instead made a counter offer to help New Delhi in its efforts to deal with the crisis.

"There is no possibility of any joint relief operations on both sides of the LoC. There is no population on the LoC,” newly-appointed Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasleen Aslam told reporters here.

The Pakistan army is operating in villages and towns in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) including far-flung areas but not on the LoC, she said.

"We remain willing to help Indians if we are needed for any kind of assistance like the Indians offered us any kind of assistance”, she said.

Replying to another question, she said India has formally been informed of Pakistan's offer.

She said Pakistan was ‘grateful’ for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's offer of any assistance. Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran too spoke to his Pakistan counterpart Riaz Muhammad Khan on the recently established hotline and offered assistance.

"At the moment we are assessing our requirements. We are getting assistance. We will see if there is need for assistance (from India),” she said adding the need to keep in mind that the earthquake has hit parts of India and Jammu and Kashmir.

"But if need be, we are ready to help them like they have offered to help us,” Aslam said.

Responding to a question about security concerns, she said, "I don''t know. Maybe India media has reported about security concerns.”

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