The Hindu : Proposal for `soft' borders enthuses divided families

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 13, 2003

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Proposal for `soft' borders enthuses divided families

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu May 12. The proposal of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, for making the borders in the State with Pakistan `soft' has rekindled fresh hopes among the thousands of divided families.

Mr. Sayeed taking a cue from the opening of the Wagah border had made a similar proposal to both India and Pakistan to `soften' the borders along J&K and open up the routes for a regular interaction between the divided families.

Notwithstanding the environment in the State, and the fact that the demand may be difficult to meet, it has enthused the many divided families in the State, especially in the Jammu region.

Talab Khatiakian, Jammu stands testimony to the pain of hundreds of such families who have their relatives in different parts of Pakistan. The families here have tried to maintain relations with the other side but the occasional restrictions on visa cause discomfort. The families have to make endless visits to the national capital and seek permission from the other side.

According to them, if they were allowed to go to the other side from the State borders this would reduce the huge expenditure incurred on travel and visits to the national capital to know their visa status.

Hafiza who has his brother living on the other side said: " We are the worst-hit whenever hostilities break out between India and Pakistan. There is even more restrictions on maintaining relations with the other side due to the security scenario. It will be a great relief if they open the Suchetgarh-Sialkot border."

Many in the old generation living here are still icons and hailed as heroes across the border and have maintained contact with the other side.

They also support the idea of a `soft' border. A veteran Communist leader, K.D. Sethi, who hails from Mirpur district of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, still gets loads of letters from his friends and followers. A few years ago he visited the place and displayed the reception photographs. "The cultural links with the people on the other side cannot be broken easily and this is to be understood by the leadership of both countries."

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