Pakistan and India work towards reconciling the Line of Control crossing in Kashmir
Sudhir Chadda
Oct. 23, 2005

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna indicated late Saturday that New Delhi was willing to work with Pakistan's proposal, saying there was an overlap with India's offer.

"It appears to us that the proposals made by Pakistan can be reconciled with those that we ourselves had already made," Sarna said in remarks released Sunday.

The opening of the border is of particular concern to India, which has fenced and fortified the Line of Control to prevent Islamic militants seeking Kashmiri independence or Pakistani control from crossing.

India's proposal came in apparent response to repeated calls from Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf for Kashmiris to be allowed to cross the Line of Control long regarded as one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints to help each other recover from the disaster.

"Let people come and help this side or our people go across that side to help in reconstruction," the Pakistani leader said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. on Friday. "Wherever or whoever wants to do that, let's do it."

Sarna said earthquake victims would be allowed to cross the border for medical treatment, provisions and shelter in three camps that could start operating on the Indian side as soon as Tuesday, pending approval from Pakistan.

Permitting Kashmiris to cross the Line of Control would be a clear sign of mounting trust between the longtime rivals and buoy hopes that the shared tragedy of the earthquake can help the South Asian rivals forge peace.

The growing cooperation comes as relief operations have taken on increasing urgency as temperatures dip. In Kashmir, snow has already fallen in the high mountains, and upland villages are experiencing subfreezing temperatures at night.

The United Nations has appealed to all countries to give more aid, warning that if tents and provisions are not in place before the harsh Himalayan winter sets in, there could be another wave of deaths.

The United States increased its humanitarian help Sunday with the arrival of the U.S. Army's only Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or MASH unit, outside Islamabad.

The unit was being brought in a large convoy to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, to set up a 44-bed facility complete with two operating theaters where doctors will be able to perform 20 major operations daily.

A recent small earthquake in eastern Afghanistan signals possibility another massive earthquake in Afghanistan-Pakistan-India region
Kiran Chaube
It is probably signaling a much larger tectonic shift in the earth’s crust after the massive 7.6 Richter tremor in Kashmir...
READ MORE>>

India opens aid camps on Indian side of line of Control to help Kashmiri earthquake victims trapped in Pakistan occupied Kashmir
Mohammed Akhtar
It was a great gestured by India. It will save a lot of life in Kashmir. It may pose some solid embarrassment for Pakistan who has failed to provide adequate relief for Kashmiris in the Pakistan occupied territory.
READ MORE>>

Pakistan and India work towards reconciling the Line of Control crossing in Kashmir
Sudhir Chadda
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna indicated late Saturday that New Delhi was willing to work with Pakistan's proposal...
READ MORE>>

MORE ARTICLES >>