CHAKOTHI/KAMAN POST, 18 November 2005 — Kashmiris reunited in grief across the cease-fire line dividing their quake-stricken homeland yesterday, after Pakistan and India relaxed border restrictions as a humanitarian gesture.
Yesterday’s crossing was one-way traffic, with 24 Indian Kashmiris returning home from the Pakistani side. The returning Kashmiris were all elderly, and some had to be helped down steps cut into the gorge down to the footbridge, while porters carried baggage on their heads.
Pakistani officials said they had not been told why no travelers were entering from the Indian side.
Officials said that 24 civilians who crossed into Indian Kashmir yesterday were mostly passenger of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service, who arrived in Muzaffarabad before the earthquake and got stuck here.
Meanwhile, federal Relief Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan said that it is time for the nation to look beyond traditional thinking and accept help and assistance from every direction. “In the face of this natural calamity we should forget every animosity and be ready to accept help and assistance from everyone,” he said.
He was asked to comment on criticism of accepting relief goods from India and the opening of the LOC for this purpose.
He added: “There is no time for such talk, we should leave everything aside, we should accept aid from everyone, I don’t know who is making these criticisms, but let me tell you we must accept aid no matter who is sending it.”
Farooq said that the relief goods being exchanged at the LOC are of nominal quantity and are token in nature. However relief efforts across five crossing points on the LOC are likely to pick up.
India said after finalizing dates with Pakistan that the quake-affected people would be able cross the LOC and receive treatment at relief camps on the Indian side.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said people would be allowed to cross at the Uri-Chakhoti point on Nov. 17 and Dec. 1 and at the Uri-Hajipur point on Nov. 24 and Dec. 8.
The Tithwal-Nauseri crossing would be open on Nov. 19 and 26 and Dec. 3 and 10, the Poonch-Rawalakote crossing on Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 and Mendhar-Tattapani on Nov. 28 and December 12, he added.
The Kashmiris, who had crossed over to the Pakistan side on the friendship bus, were eager to return home. “I desperately wanted to come home and see with my eyes if everybody survived. I still don’t know what is the situation here in my home,” Haji Mohammad Rafiq told Reuters after he returned home to Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani side.
“I came. I was very happy. I saw all the family but after the earthquake they are living in a very bad situation. It is a very sad moment for me,” said 72-year-old Attaullah Khawaja, his wrinkled face framed by a white beard and flat woollen cap.
Until yesterday, only relief supplies were allowed over the temporary footbridge linking Chakothi and Uri on the India side, leaving Kashmiris aching for news of loved ones.
The United Nations too wants to see the cease-fire line opened to its own aid trucks, saying it could save thousands of lives in remote mountain communities on the Pakistani side, but the two sides have yet to agree to this.
First Wedding in Muzaffarabad After Massive Quake
Meanwhile, Muzaffarabad yesterday celebrated its first wedding since last month’s massive tremor reduced it to rubble, with the ceremony geared toward boosting morale.
Dozens of politicians and hundreds of townsfolk swarmed to a makeshift wedding hall in a scrubby field for the nuptials of a local policeman and his young bride. “This shows the world that life is going on — that there must be joy amongst the tragedy,” said National Assembly parliamentary leader of the pro-government Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party, Muhammad Farooq Sattar, one of the guest dignitaries.
Others included federal Communications Minister Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui and Housing Minister Syed Safwanullah. “This should remind the world not to forget about us — that we are still human and we are still in need,” Siddiqui said.
Kashif Hussain Kiani, 28, married Somia Shafiq, 22, in the shadow of the groom’s wrecked family home and beneath crisp blue skies teeming with relief helicopters flying aid to isolated villages. The union was arranged by their parents earlier this year.
— Additional input from agencies.
