Second quake relief point on LoC
Uri
(Jammu and Kashmir): India and Pakistan on Wednesday opened
the second point on the Line of Control (LoC) at the Kaman
Post in Uri to facilitate the movement of relief supplies
to quake-ravaged Pakistan Kashmir. The relief material was
being carried across the LoC by porters as the road on the
other side to Chakoti was sunk due to landslides. People on
both sides of the subcontinental divide were, however, not
allowed to cross the LoC because the Pakistani authorities
were still to clear the documents of those wanting to travel.
At the time of the filing of this report, at least 30 people
from Jammu and Kashmir and 16 from Pakistani Kashmir were
expected to cross the LoC from the second of the five designated
points for joint quake relief operations. The Kaman Post-Chakoti
is the second relief centre opened by New Delhi and Islamabad
after Poonch-Rawalakote point at Chakan-Da- Bagh-Titrikote
was opened on Monday. Indian Army officials and their Pakistani
counterparts shook hands before the relief material was allowed
across the LoC.
A
large number of people of the divided families and media persons
had descended at the relief centres set up on either side
to witness the historic event in the valley. "We are very
happy that the road is opening and we will be meeting our
people closely who had parted with us during independence"
said Ayub Khan, a villager. "The people who have relatives
on the other side will be meeting them and the countries will
come together. This is big happiness for us," a villager,"
said Samar Bhatt, another villager. Lt. Colonel S. Bharadwaj,
an Indian Army official said the road would be fully opened
in another 10 days. "Since the time it has been decided that
this route will be opened we have created a pony track on
it. At the time this route of Hajipeer was closed we were
not using it at all because of the landmines. We have put
to use our dozers to diffuse them and we are certain that
we will open this road in ten days," he said. The third point
at Teetwal-Nauseri point in Tangdhar is scheduled to be opened
on Thursday. A lot of significance has been given to the opening
of the LoC in both New Delhi and Islamabad. But in Kashmir,
many feel that it may prove to be a futile exercise at this
time. The two sides used to exchange regular artillery fire
along the line until they agreed to a ceasefire in late 2003.
That truce has underpinned a hesitant peace process between
the nuclear-armed rivals, which has included talks on a range
of disputes, including their central disagreement over Kashmir.
Pakistan controls about a third of Kashmir, India about half
and China the remaining.
Meanwhile,
Pakistan on Wednesday issued a global SOS for warm clothes
and foodgrains for quake survivors, even as the winter looms
large over the horizon. Major General Shaukat Sultan, Director-General
of the Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) told Geo TV
that the supply of foodgrains and warm clothes for quake victims
was an emergency requirement. He, however, said that the tent
deficiency had been met. Foodgrains such as flour, pulses,
cooking oil and powder milk were required in large quantities,
he added. Major General Sultan also said that the danger of
the difficult mountainous roads getting blocked with the advent
of snowfall existed, and therefore, the affected people would
have to be provided warm jackets and food items prior to this
impending threat. The Chief of Jaamat "i-Islami, Qazi Hussain
Ahmad, said that relief operations in quake-affected areas
would continue until the quake victims were completely rehabilitated.
Qazi Hussain stated this while talking to organizers of relief
camps at residence of member parliament Mian Aslam here. He
said that Jamaat-i-Islami and Islami and Al Khidmat group
would continue their relief operations till complete rehabilitation
of quake affected people. Qazi Hussain directed the organizers
to arrange alternate dwellings for shelter less people before
snowfall. The Muhttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has suspended
its relief operations in the quake-affected areas. Addressing
a telephonic press conference from London, MQM chief Altaf
Hussain said that workers busy in relief operations in affected
areas had been asked to halt their activities immediately.