International - India & World   

Agreement on opening of LoC

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Decision to help quake victims

ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan have agreed to open five points across the Line of Control (LoC) from November 7 to enable people on both sides to participate in earthquake relief and reconstruction work.

The understanding came early on Sunday after four rounds of official talks. The Pakistan delegation was headed by Syed Ibne Abbas, Director-General (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indian delegation by Dilip Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs.

A joint statement listed Nauseri-Tithwal; Chakoti-Uri; Hajipur-Uri; Rawalakot-Poonch and Tattapani-Mendhar as the agreed routesfrom where people would be allowed to cross.

It is for the first time since Partition that LoC is being thrown open to enable people cross over on feet. After the launch of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service in April, opening of these routes for travel and a truck service on the bus route was on the dialogue table.

"It was agreed that because of non-availability of or damage to infrastructure on these points, crossings across the LoC 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 above additional crossings and both will endeavour to expedite the clearance process preferably within 10 days," the joint statement said.

Both sides agreed that priority 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 could be sent in either direction and handed-over to local authorities on the aforementioned crossing points.

The Pakistan side expressed its appreciation for India's assistance for the earthquake victims.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Embattled Bush turns focus on Iraq
Sri Lankan intelligence officer shot dead
Violence in Zanzibar poll
HIV insurance launched
Dhaka issues terror alert
Agreement on opening of LoC
I'm making LoC irrelevant: Musharraf

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu