Pakistan, India to Open Kashmir Border

[allemand]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - India and Pakistan agreed Sunday to open the militarized border in the disputed Kashmir region to help victims of South Asia's quake, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said.

After 12-hour talks between foreign ministry officials, the two sides agreed to open crossings at five points across the Line of Control, the cease-fire line that divides the Himalayan region which the archrivals have fought two wars over.

The two sides agreed the border would be opened on Nov. 7. Relief items would be allowed to be sent in either direction and handed over to local authorities at the five crossing points, the foreign ministry statement said. Crossings would also be permitted on foot.

The unprecedented agreement came in response to the Oct. 8 quake that killed about 78,000 people in Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. More than 1,300 people died on the Indian side of Kashmir. An estimated 3.3 million were left homeless and fears for their lives are growing as winter draws near.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051029/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_quake_pk1_45

[JI7]

1. this is great news

[fujiyama]

2. If I were in charge

of the Indian government, I'd be cautious.

I still don't trust the Pakistani government one bit. They are pushing terrorists over the border.