Indo-Pak officials talk opening of border

Dilip Sinha, (R) Joint Secretary of Indian External Affairs Ministry is guided by Ibne Abbas, (L) Pakistani Director General South Asia for Foreign Affairs Ministry prior to a meeting in Islamabad yesterday. Pakistani and Indian officials started talks on opening two-way movement across the disputed border in quake-ravaged Kashmir where thousands of survivors desperately await relief. PHOTO: AFP

Foreign Ministry officials were meeting in Islamabad to discuss whether to allow Kashmiris to cross the heavily militarised Line of Control, the cease-fire line that divides the Himalayan region over which the South Asian rivals have fought two wars. A joint statement was expected later Saturday after the talks.

Since Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf suggested allowing Kashmiris to help each other recover from the Oct. 8 quake, both governments have shown a willingness to open the border but disagree how to do it, reflecting their mutual suspicion.

The 7.6-magnitude temblor killed about 78,000 people in Pakistan, most in the Pakistan-controlled portion of Kashmir. More than 1,300 people died on the Indian side. An estimated 3.3 million others were left homeless and fears for their lives are growing as winter closes in.

The latest in hundreds of aftershocks struck early Saturday, with a magnitude of 5.5 and centred in the quake zone, the US Geological Survey reported. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The head of the Indian delegation, Dilip Sinha, told reporters on arriving in Pakistan late Friday that the atmosphere between Pakistan and India was positive and that "we hope to have useful talks."

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam also expressed optimism.

"Pakistan and India can reach an agreement after Saturday's talks for opening the Line of Control for Kashmiris so that they can meet with their relatives and friends without facing procedural difficulties," she said.

Crossing the land border in Kashmir was forbidden for 58 years until Pakistan and India agreed to a twice-monthly bus service earlier this year, one of the most tangible results so far of a two-year peace process to bury their history of acrimony and also settle their competing claims to Kashmir.