India and Pakistan open borders for Kashmir aid
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) India and Pakistan today reopened the border dividing the contested region of Kashmir for the first time in 58 years, The move, aimed at facilitating the influx of humanitarian aid to quake survivors in the region, raised hopes of an eventual resolution to the age-old territorial dispute between the two states.
At 11.50 local time, high-ranking army officials from both countries and representatives of their respective governments met at the first of five border crossings expected to be opened. Between the Pakistan area of Titrinote and the Indian Chakan Da Bagh, the delegations shook hands and posed for photo opportunities.
Then an Indian truck, distinguishable by its orange body, backed up on the so-called Line of Control which in fact since the 1947 armistice has divided Kashmir in two; in the meantime, a Pakistani truck did the same on the other side. Attendants started to unload the first loads of relief aid and to load them onto the other: in all, 25 vehicles will be involved in the operation even if none of them crossed the frontier today.
Kashmir was hardest hit by the earthquake which struck on 8 October killing more than 74,000 people.
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09/11/2005
