Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Formal proposal on LoC opening shortly: Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Oct 20, IRNA
Pakistan-Kashmir
Pakistan has said that it would forward a formal proposal to India on the opening of the Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir under Pakistan's control and India's.

Currently internal discussions are taking place. We hope to contact the Indian government shortly for a proposal on LoC opening, Dawn newspaper quoted the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam in its Thursday issue.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told journalists here on Wednesday that Pakistan and India had started discussing modalities to open the LOC so that Kashmiris can meet their quake-hit relatives and join relief activities across the divide.

He said that decision made by Pakistan and India would enable Kashmiris on both sides of the divide to share their sorrow and help each other.

Pakistan and India have fought two of the three wars on this disputed piece of land since their independence from British rule in August 1947.

However, presently both sides are engaged a peace process to settle all bilateral issues including Kashmir through negotiations.

President Pervez Musharraf the other day hinted at the possibility of opening LoC in the wake of post-earthquake relief operations.

The quake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale wreaked havoc in North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan and Kashmir under its control on October 8.

However, the government says death toll was 47,700,while over 70,000 injured and 3 million without shelter.

President dropped the hint after besides India, Kashmiris in the Kashmir under India's control wanted to cross the LoC to help their brothers on this side of the divide.

India also offered to provide helicopters to Pakistan, which it accepted but with a condition that Indian pilots would not fly them.

Reacting to the proposal of opening the LoC, a pro-Pakistan leader of Kashmiris in Indian-administered Kashmir Syed Ali Gillani said the proposal is aimed at making the border irrelevant, Nawa-e Waqt newspaper reported.

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