Pakistan, India reopen main Kashmir crossing

Pakistani soldiers stand near an Indian checkpoint after the opening of the second crossing point for aid supplies on the Line of Control which links the Indian Kaman Post with Chakhoti in Pakistan yesterday. The two countries have agreed that a lengthy verification process is needed for those willing to cross the LoC, leading to frustration among survivors of the October 8 earthquake.. PHOTO: AFP

The crossing between the Pakistani town of Chakothi and the Indian town of Uri was one of five points along the Line of Control the South Asian rivals agreed to open to facilitate aid and allow divided families to meet.

No people crossed at Friendship Bridge on Wednesday, but the two countries exchanged almost identical batches of relief goods.

"The concept is to restore confidence," said Pakistani commander Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammad Chiragh Haider. "It is a step towards the right direction. It is very necessary."

The crossing was closed after the bridge, which spans a stream at the frontier, was damaged by the Oct. 8 quake. A temporary wooden footbridge was used on Wednesday to carry across supplies.

After civilian and military officials shook hands, Pakistan sent over blankets, foodstuffs, tents and medicines while porters brought over similar supplies from the Indian side.

"Sometimes it's not the need necessarily; sometimes you need that to restore confidence," Haider said of the relief supplies.

After decades of tension and two wars over Kashmir, Pakistan and India agreed last month to reopen Friendship Bridge and four new border points to allow aid and survivors of the earthquake to cross. People were to be allowed across on foot.

Pakistan says it is ready to open all five border points, but India says that will take several more days and paperwork means no people have yet travelled between the two sectors of Kashmir.

A border crossing in southern Kashmir was opened on Monday.

On Tuesday, the United Nations, heading a big relief effort after the disaster killed over 73,000 people in Pakistan and 1,300 in Indian Kashmir, said the crossings must be opened rapidly to get aid to thousands of homeless survivors before a bitter Himalayan winter sets in.

It said there was a desperate need for much wider access to hundreds of thousands of people in remote valleys and a land route for aid from India would save thousands of lives.

Pakistan has expressed frustration at the delay on the Indian side. On Monday, when the first point opened, Pakistani police fired teargas to disperse angry Kashmiris prevented from crossing the border by the lengthy bureaucratic process.

"We are ready for the crossing for the people but the opposite side wants to carry out some modalities," Haider said.

"The main aim of opening this crossing is to let the people of both sides of Kashmir have contacts."

Indian relief commissioner Bashir Ahmed Runial said Kashmiris would be allowed to cross "whenever we get orders". "As far as the administration is concerned, we are ready."

Pakistan says India has insisted on paperwork, including lists of travellers and security checks, which takes about 10 days to process, delaying hoped-for family reunions until next week at the earliest.

Pakistani and Indian forces used to exchange regular artillery fire along the Line of Control until they agreed to a ceasefire in late 2003.