Silikote, Uri, November 16
India and Pakistan today opened the Line of Control (LoC) at the fifth and last designated point of Hajipir- Uri to exchange relief supplies for quake-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), but again only porters and no civilian were allowed to cross the dividing line.

From the Indian side, Uri Relief Commissioner Bashir Ahmed Runiyal, Assistant Commissioner of Baramulla Dilshada Khan and Uri Subdivisional Police Officer (SDPO) Mohammad Yousuf handed over the relief material to Mr Shakil Ahmed Khan, Assistant Director, Social Welfare Department of Bagh district in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Mr Khan is the designated authority for relief in the Hajipir sector in the PoK.

Hundreds of civilians had gathered on both sides of the LoC to witness the historic moment. A large number of quake survivors of Silikote in Uri and Hajipir in PoK waved and greeted each other.

But the anger and disappointment could easily be seen among them for not being allowed to meet each other.

‘’Why did they (India and Pakistan) announce the opening of these points when the civilians are not being allowed to cross the LoC. We want to go across the LoC and enquire about the welfare of our relatives there,’’ said a visibly angry Aijaz Ahed, a student.

Naseer Ahmed, a shopkeeper, had a piece of advice for the authorities of two countries.

‘’Please close these relief points. These were opened not for the people, but to gain publicity. The move is like adding insult to the injury. So many of our relatives have been killed there, but we are not even being allowed to see the survivors,’’ he said.

The relief material sent from the Indian side included 1020 blankets, 100 tarpualins, 500 bags (each bag containing 7.50 kg of mixed food articles), 501 kitchen sets, 300 towels, eight bundles of cotton cloth and 144 foam matresses.

Pakistan has sent nine tents, 54 blankets, 1001 food packets, 24 tarpaulins, one water cooler and one quilt for Indian quake survivors.

Porters from both the sides ferried the relief material across the LoC, the de facto ceasefire line, dividing Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. — UNI

Jammu, November 16
Devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Pakistan occupied Kashmir has had no impact on the level of infiltration from across the LoC except that the rate of exfiltration has increased.

This was confirmed by the infiltration of a group of militants from which two carried out a fidayeen attack in the Lal Chowk area on Monday. Two CRPF personnel and two civilians were killed in the attack.

Official sources said today, “We have reports that groups of foreign mercenaries,belonging to occupied Kashmir had crossed over to Pakistan to inquire about the welfare of their family members and other relations whose houses had been damaged by the quake.”

According to the sources, though better border management by the troops and the completion of the barbed wire fence on the LoC, which had been damaged owing to heavy snow during last winter, had reduced the level of infiltration in various sectors, the ingress continued from across Machel in Kupwara district.”

On the basis of field reports scores of militants had crossed over to occupied Kashmir from the Machel area in recent weeks to find out whether their family members and relations, affected by the earthquake, had been rehabilitated or not.

Official sources stated that there was no considerable drop in the rate of ingress from across Poonch and Rajouri. “Though infiltration had not increased in recent months, there has been no major decline in it as militants in small groups continue to sneak into Poonch and Rajouri areas from across the LoC,” a senior police officer said.

In reply to a question, the police officer said that professional guides had been assisting militants in crossing into Jammu and Kashmir from across rivers and ravines, which had not been effectively plugged by the barbed wire fence. He said as a result of continued infiltration there did not seem any drop in the number of militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu, November16
The nearly two-hour-long meeting between Governor Lieut-Gen(Retd) S.K.Sinha and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here last evening is being seen as an attempt by the latter to once again make relations cordial between the two institutions of the Governor and Chief Minister.

The relations between the General and the previous Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, had remained sour almost for three during the PDP-led government in the state.

The two were not even on talking terms when the Mufti government created hurdles in the way of organising pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the Kashmir valley.

Estranged relations between the two, particularly during the annual pilgrimage, reached a deadlock and the Union Home Ministry had to intervene on the
issue.

This is the third meeting between the Governor and Mr Azad in the past 10 days. Such meetings were rare during the Mufti’s regime.

Mr Azad is trying to carry along every section in his effort to restore normalcy in the state. The Opposition parties, including the National Conference and the BJP, are supporting his efforts in this direction.

An official spokesman said that the Governor and Mr Azad discussed the overall situation in the state with special reference to relief and rehabilitation of the quake victims.

In his capacity as chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the Governor presented a cheque for Rs 5 lakh, besides his personal contribution of his one month’s salary, to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, the meeting between the Governor and Mr Azad has sparked speculation in political circles of a possible expansion of the ministry. Sources said that Mr Azad might undertake the exercise anytime before the winter session of the Assembly next month.

Supporters of Mr Azad, who have been left out of the ministry, are keenly waiting for the expansion. Some of the MLAs have even made rounds of Delhi in a bid to seek blessings of various leaders of the party to find a berth in the Council of Ministers.

It is learnt that Mr Azad might try to give representation to the Gujjar community, Kashmiri Pandits, Scheduled Castes and women in his ministry.

Mr Azad’s loyalists have not found adequate place in his 13-member ministry and are vying for a ministerial berth.

The border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu division, which have witnessed large-scale terrorism, are yet to get representation in the ministry.