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4th point opened on LoC for exchanging relief material
Our Correspondent

Jammu, November 14
India and Pakistan today opened the fourth point on the Line of Control (LoC) for exchanging quake relief material in Mendhar sector in Poonch district. This is the second point in the Poonch district which was opened today.

Before exchanging the relief material at the Roshi-Kanna posts, 7 km from Mendhar, authorities representing both India and Pakistan shook hands and greeted each other.

The Indian side was represented by the Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Mohammad Ramzan Thakur, while the Pakistani side was represented by the officiating DC, Kotli, Mr Nahim Khan.

As was expected, no civilian from either side of the Line of Control was allowed to come near the post to meet their separated relatives and were kept away from the official ceremony. The mood at the official function was little subdued as no official from either side crossed the LoC at any given point of time unlike Chakan-Da-Bagh where journalists and officials from both the sides had mingled with each other.

Mr Farooq Sikander, son of former Prime Minister of PoK Sikander Hyat Khan, appealed to both neighbouring countries to make arrangements for meetings of members of the divided families at the same LoC points till they finalise formal opening of the LoC and allowing movement of members of divided families.

The Mendhar-Mirpur road is among the five points on the LoC that the two countries had decided to open to assist movement of relief material.

At least 10 truck loads of immediate relief material, including ration, medicines and tents, was transported across the LoC by porters from both the sides. The Army had constructed a patch of road to the last post in Mendhar to ferry relief material.

Officials from both the countries expressed hope that soon after the identification formalities were over, people would be allowed to interact with their relatives near the crossing point. A senior Army official present on the spot told reporters that the Mendhar-Mirpur road was made operational almost after a gap of 58 years.