India to lift barriers on LoC for family reunions

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, JULY 9. In a historic decision, India today decided to lift barriers at specific locations along the Line of Control (LoC) so that Kashmiris living in PoK and those holding Pakistani passports could travel to Jammu and Kashmir.

In a major announcement on the eve of the summit meeting, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, declared that ``designated points along the International Border (IB) and the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir'' would be opened up for Pakistani passport holders. Highly-placed sources said that the Government was inclined to open the old Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for travel. Specifically, Pakistani passport holders may enter Jammu and Kashmir via Chakoti, which is on the Pakistani side, and Uri, which falls on the on the Indian side of the LoC.

The decision, once implemented, will for the first time in 54 years permit reunion of Kashmiri families living on either side of the 540 km-long LoC.

The announcement is expected to be welcomed by Kashmiris on either side of the LoC. By arousing a positive response, it could diminish focus on the controversy revolving around the proposed meeting between Hurriyat leaders and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Rail link to be restored

In another significant declaration, Mr. Vajpayee said that the Rajasthan-Sindh rail link would also be restored.

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, Munabao, situated in Rajasthan on the Indo-Pakistan rail map, would be opened up as yet another cross-border transit point. Munabao, which can be reached from the last Pakistani railhead of Khokraphar in Sindh, was open to traffic until the 1965 war.

With the aim of making travel, especially among Indian and Pakistani youth, ``as simple and easy as possible'' a decision has been taken to issue visas at the border checkpoints itself. Apart from the proposed new locations, visas would also be issued at the Attari checkpost in Punjab. Besides, vehicles would be made available close to the transit points so that the travellers do not have problems in going to the interior areas. The decisions are expected to be implemented within three months.

To a question, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External affairs asserted that while it would be India's endeavour to facilitate travel, ``no aspects of security will be compromised.''

The Prime Minister's directive is part of India's pre- summit peace offensive and aimed at generating goodwill among Pakistani people. India has already taken unilateral steps to promote business ties and facilitate interaction between the youth of the two countries.

In a related development, the spokesperson announced that the proposed visit to Islamabad by the Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt. Gen. G.S. Sihota, had been officially communicated to the Pakistani authorities.

The DGMO spoke to his Pakistani counterpart over telephone this evening about his visit. The Pakistani High Commissioner, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, was also informed this morning.

Government sources said the DGMO was expected to discuss details, including administrative arrangements for facilitating travel by Kashmiris across the LoC.

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