Indian Army begins de-mining LoC
From Abdul Sami Lone

SRINAGAR—The Indian Army has started removing landmines at places along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir where three relief camps will be set up for quake victims from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Army officials said units were busy removing thousands of mines along vast stretches of land at Poonch, Uri and Tangdhar. Many of the mines were laid during 2002, when India and Pakistan had mobilized nearly a million troops during a standoff.
The officials said the de-mining operations would be completed by Monday evening. Soldiers will create a three-foot wide path for people from Pakistani Kashmir to cross the LoC.
India on Saturday offered to set up three relief camps and meeting points along the LoC as a goodwill gesture toward families in the divided parts of Kashmir that were affected by the Oct 8 quake, which has killed thousands in the region.
The offer was made by India in response to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s proposal for opening the LoC to allow quake-hit divided families to meet.
The Indian Army has been given orders to make the three meeting points along the LoC operational by Tuesday morning, though Pakistan is yet to formally communicate its position on modalities for the crossing points in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will do our job. The rest is for the governments to decide,” an officer said on condition of anonymity.