ISLAMABAD: Hours after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said that a resolution of the Kashmir issue could be India's `donation to Kashmir' in the context of the earthquake, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said here on Saturday that India was ready to resolve all issues including Kashmir through dialogue "in an atmosphere free of terrorism and violence."

Addressing the donors' conference organised by Pakistan to raise funds for reconstruction efforts in the earthquake hit zone, Mr. Ahamed said India's position on Kashmir was "well known."

The Minister said it was very encouraging to see that people in both countries came forward to help the victims of the tragedy and contribute wholeheartedly for their relief. "This spontaneous outpouring of sympathy and goodwill for the victims of the earthquake gives us the strength and motivation to work for greater people-to-people contact and confidence building measures between our two countries," the Minister said.

Mr. Ahamed said he had specifically been sent by the Indian Government to offer full support to the Government of Pakistan and people affected by the earthquake in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts and reaffirmed India's full cooperation and support to efforts being mobilised worldwide.

$25 million pledge

Without making any new pledge the Minister reaffirmed India's pledge of $25 million made at the International Conference in Geneva organised by the U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator on October 26 and said Pakistan would be welcome to use this fund for sourcing supplies from India.

"It is our wish that India's contribution should be particularly used for rebuilding of schools and hospitals and for rebuilding houses for affected people. The technology available in India for prefabricated earthquake resistant shelters can also be sourced from this fund. Mr. President, we have noted your valuable suggestion about building-construction materials available in India," the Minister said.

He said India had seen the report on `Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment' prepared by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank and was ready to take up specific projects in sectors such as education and health where India had wide experience and considerable expertise.

Besides, the cultural, administrative and technological compatibility with the needs of Pakistan in these areas made India an ideal partner to undertake these projects and it was ready to identify such projects in consultation with the Government of Pakistan, Mr. Ahamed said.

Special responsibility

The Minister said the effects of natural calamities could be mitigated through prompt and effective assistance by the international community and it was in this spirit that India was taking part in the conference. "More significantly, as a neighbour, India recognises its special responsibility in contributing to this global effort to extend its support and aid to Pakistan in its hour of need."

Mr. Ahamed said that so far India had sent about 1,300 tonnes of relief goods to Pakistan by aircraft, train and truck. These included blankets, sleeping bags, tents including snow tents, medicines including vaccines, fortified biscuits, X-ray machines, rice and pulses. It was further supplemented by donations from private organisations.

The Minister said the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had been allowed to open a bank account to receive donations from Indians who wished to contribute to the relief effort and India was permitting Pakistani helicopters to fly in the `no-fly zone' along the Line of Control to enable them to access their villages close to the LoC.

He said India installed special telephone call centres to enable families to talk to their relatives and friends across the Line of Control free of charge and foreign organisations are also being allowed to source supplies from India.

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