Five Crossing Points: LoC in Kashmir gets Open on Nov-7
By Mumtaz Hamid Rao - PakistanTimes.net Editor & Special Correspondent

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan has decided to set up five relief camps along the Line of Control [LoC] to provide help and assistance to the earthquake affected people of Occupied Kashmir.

Talking to newsmen here after visiting the earthquake affected areas of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir along with Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday that crossing at five points across the LoC will be allowed to provide a chance for two-way movement of Kashmiris of divided families to console each other.

These five crossing points across the LoC will be Nauseri-Tithwal, Chakoti-Uri, Hajipur-Uri, Rawalkot-Poonch and Tattapani-Poonch. Aziz said, "Pakistan is setting up five relief camps at these five crossings where medical and other help and assistance will be available for the Kashmiris living in the Occupied Kashmir."

Grieve and Sorrow

Food, medical assistance and other relief would be available in these five camps across the LoC for the help of those victims of October-8 earthquake who are living in the Occupied Kashmir, he said by adding that the divided Kashmiri families would be allowed to meet each other from these points to share their grieve and sorrow.

As was reported by 'PakistanTimes.net' today via Newswire that Pakistan and India, after Saturday's talks agreed that because of non-availability of roads due to damage to infrastructure on these points, crossing across the line would be permitted on foot.

They also agreed on operationalization of the arrangements to open these points for crossing of families of divided Kashmir by November-7 as a humanitarian measure.

Perspective

These points are being opened as follow-up of the President General Pervez Musharraf's proposal to open the Line of Control to allow two-way movement by Kashmiris after October-8 earthquake.

The Prime Minister appreciated the help and assistance being provided by the world for relief and rehabilitation work. He said Pakistan is organising world donors conference on November-19.

He also appreciated the help and contribution of Riyal 500 million from the Saudi government besides individual assistance from many Saudi philanthropists and businessmen like Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.

Lauds Role of Army

The Prime Minister said Pakistan Army did a wonderful job in helping the earthquake victims and evacuated thousands from the damaged buildings.

Earlier, during the briefing at Muzaffarabad, the Prime Minister Aziz was informed that electricity and water supply in the city have been fully restored while work for reviving these basic needs in the remote areas is in full swing.

Due to damage to the roads, it was very difficult to reach to the affected areas in the mountains but Pakistan Army with the help and assistance from many countries and NGOs is providing help to the victims to each and every corner.

Causalities

The PM was informed there was 43,000 causalities in Bagh, Rawalkot and Muzaffarabad areas and this number could still increase. Helicopters, mules and other possible ways are being used to access the inaccessible damaged areas.

More than 48,000 persons were evacuated by Pakistan Army from various damaged areas of Azad Kashmir while helicopters have so far mad more than 1300 sorties in these areas to drop food, tents, blankets and other relief goods.

Major Roads Re-opened

All the major roads have been re-opened in the areas while work is in full swing to re-open link roads. At the same time, efforts are being made to re-open schools in the damaged areas after Eid ul Fitr.

In-depth

Pakistan and India agreed in the early hours of Sunday on opening of five points at the Line of Control [LoC] for crossing on foot by Kashmiris of divided families from November-7, for the first time since the Himalayan state became disputed between the two countries in the wake of Indian invasion of a part of the Himalayan State of Jammu & Kashmir, back in 1947 when the 100-year-old Dogra rule came to an end at the time when British rulers made an exit from the sub-continent, granting independence to it.

Pakistan's first independent daily E-newspaper, 'PakistanTimes.net' understands that there is no timeframe for the crossings on LoC, which have been left open till the need arises for both sides to meet again.

"These were very difficult and intense negotiations but in the end the real winners are the people of Kashmir," was how one official put it.

Joint Statement

According to the joint statement issued after the marathon parleys, the Pakistan side expressed its appreciation for the assistance provided by India for the earthquake victims. The two sides agreed to open crossings at five points across the LoC at Nauseri-Tithwal, Chakothi-Uri, Hajipur-Uri, Rawalakot-Poonch and  Tattapani-Mendhar.

It was agreed that because of non-availability of or damage to infrastructure on these points, crossings would be permitted on foot. The parameters and procedures as already agreed upon between the two sides being used for the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service would be used for the additional crossings and both will endeavour to expedite the clearance process preferably within ten days.

It was agreed that priority for crossings would be accorded to members of divided families on either side of the LoC. For relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes, it was agreed that with prior information and acceptance and depending on feasibility, relief items can be sent in either direction and handed over to local authorities on the aforementioned crossing points. This was the sticking point when talks appeared stalled earlier Saturday.

Difficult but Doable

When asked if it was feasible for the affected Kashmiris to walk over the LoC, an official said: "It is difficult but doable." The two sides agreed on operationalising the arrangements from November-7 as a humanitarian measure.

The delegations of Pakistan and India met on Saturday to discuss the proposal made by the President of Pakistan in the wake of the October 8 earthquake regarding opening of crossing points across the LoC. Director-General (South Asia) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Syed Ibne Abbas headed the Pakistani delegation while Joint Secretary at Ministry of External Affairs Dilip Sinha led the Indian delegation. The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.

How, When and Where

Earlier, 22 days after life completely changed for the worse for Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC, it was ironic to see bureaucrats from Pakistan and India engaged in negotiations on how, when and where to allow the survivors of the October-8 earthquake meet across the LoC. It took intervention from the highest authorities to jumpstart the talks again when the two sides decided to meet after a break of nearly three hours.

Earlier, the nine-hour talks running through three sessions appeared to have run into snags in the evening when two different versions came from the Foreign Office and the Indian delegation. Pakistani officials kept repeating that the Indian delegation had requested for time to return to the High Commission to consult with New Delhi on a certain point on which there appeared differences. "Our expectations are that the Indian  side will return," the spokeswoman at the Foreign Office said. She said that it was an unfinished agenda but "we are on it." She said that it was for the Indian delegation to decide whether they return to the Foreign Office or not.

Asked how she would sum up the three sessions held on Saturday, her one-word reply was, "tough". Some sources said the talks in the evening had reached a point when both sides were ready to put down their signatures but a last moment hitch delayed it. "We were almost very close to signing" was how one diplomat put it. In the meantime, the Indian delegation was saying after they left the Foreign Office, it was now for the Pakistani officials to comment on the status of the talks and they would not comment.

But diplomatic sources said later the Indian delegation forwarded a proposal to Pakistan and were awaiting Pakistan’s response to it. At this stage, it appeared that high-ups on both sides were also consulted which resulted in the decision of the Indian delegation to return after dinner to the Foreign Office where the Pakistani officials were awaiting them. At that time, the Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can only hope that there will be an agreement and a joint statement will be agreed upon."

The Hitch

The Foreign Office made two telephone calls to the Indian side and the last call brought the news that the Indian delegation was returning to the Foreign Office at 10:30 p.m. Some sources indicated that the hitch related to the issue of "reconstruction and relief across the LoC."

Pakistan had earlier indicated that if there was an agreement on crossing the LoC at agreed points, then these had to be made easy and should be accessible such as building of roads and bridges. Also when President Pervez Musharraf had talked about the Kashmiris crossing the LoC to meet each other, it also meant that the two sides, if they wanted, would also help each other with reconstruction and relief activities.

This was an area where first the Indian side agreed but later they said it was not suitable for them and they needed to consult New Delhi. Another point here was that Pakistan had already indicated the already shattered earthquake survivors could not be expected to climb mountainous regions to cross the LoC. An example was access to the Neelum Valley where one way to reach the survivors was through India held-Kashmir if the Indian authorities allowed the construction of a bridge for Pakistani relief workers to reach through.

Earlier, when the two foreign secretaries had met in New Delhi, it was India that had suggested the five meeting points for Kashmiris across the LoC. At that time Pakistan did not warm up to this proposal as was evident from their statements in the media. Later, the Pakistanis consulted Kashmiri leaders who said there was no point in travelling for several hours and then meeting for a few hours "like prisoners" only to return at a set time. It took the massive earthquake, which shook humanity in South Asia, for President Musharraf to take up the interests of the grieved Kashmiris and propose the opening of the LoC.●