The Hindu : National : Divided families disappointed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006

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National

Divided families disappointed

Luv Puri

Suchetgarh (Border with Pakistan): The hopes of thousands of divided families have been dashed with the Pakistan Government's refusal to open the famous Sialkot-Suchetgarh route. It would have united thousands of divided families living on either side of the divide.

For years Noor Mohammad (81) had been hoping to meet his daughter living in Sialkot city of Pakistan situated only 11 km from here. At present he has to travel first to Wagah and then to Lahore to meet her. He says, "I was hoping that an old man like me would get respite and would be able to meet my only daughter without difficulty. See the irony; for meeting my daughter who is a few minutes away from here, I have to travel for a full day."

Not too different is the sentiment that prevails among the youth. Jammu and Kashmir High Court lawyer Sheikh Shakeel's sister Andleep Kousar lives in Sialkot city and he too was hopeful that India and Pakistan would open the Suchetgarh route.

Sheikh says: "For people like us it is not merely a road but it is a bridge between blood relations."

Gauging the overwhelming sentiment for opening the route, India had made a proposal to Pakistan to open it. Recently the Centre informed Parliament that the Pakistan Government had rejected the proposal.

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