The Hindu : International / India & World : Pakistan signals on more entry points hailed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 11, 2005

International

International - India & World

Pakistan signals on more entry points hailed

By Our Staff Reporter

SRINAGAR, APRIL 10. Divided families have welcomed the signals from Pakistan that indicated its keenness to open more entry points along the Line of Control. Yesterday, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Sikandar Hayat Khan, conveyed their willingness to open more entry points along the LoC, saying most of the refugees had come from Poonch district.

The Indian Government had earlier proposed the opening of five designated points along the LoC but the Pakistan Government did not accept the proposal. It was contrary to the stand of the Pakistan Government itself which had first proposed the opening of the Suchetgarh-Sialkot road, when the Pakistan Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, had last visited India.

In response, India gave its proposal to open up five points along the LoC which included three points to the south of Pir Panjal. The Indian Government's proposal was based on the ground reality that more divided families live to the south of Pir Panjal and opening of these routes would benefit them more.

Hussein Rathore, a resident of Poonch district who has come from PoK says: "Among divided families there are 90 to 95 per cent to the south of Pir Panjal while there are five per cent families who live in Kashmir Valley. I hope the Pakistan Government would accept the proposal to open up five designated points along the LoC."

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Pakistan signals on more entry points hailed