3rd LoC crossing opened - but not for Kashmiris

NOSERI—India and Pakistan opened a third crossing point on the Line of Control dividing the earthquake hit region of Kashmir on Saturday, but as with earlier openings this week both sides exchanged relief supplies without allowing Kashmiris across.
India and Pakistan have agreed to open five crossing points, as a humanitarian response to the October 8 earthquake that killed over 75,000 people, mostly in Azad Kashmir. But the governments have been criticized for their hesitance in opening the border to help deliver aid to communities cut off by landslides in the mountains and valleys of the remote region, and to allow villagers to visit kinfolk on the other side.
Pakistan and India on Saturday opened the third crossing point at Noseri on the Line of Control (LoC) to help survivors of severe earthquake of October 8. The exchange of relief goods started early Saturday morning at the Crossing Point after the Commanding Officers of both sides shook hands at mid point of the bridge on river Neelum. Deputy Commissioner Neelum Raja Tariq Mehmood and Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Abdul Majeed also shook hands on the occasion. Senior military and civil officers were also present on the occasion. Later, talking to journalists, Sector Commander Neelum Brig Ashraf Tabasum said Noseri crossing point was among the five points which are to be opened by both governments as meeting point and for exchanging relief goods for the quake victims.
He said after taking decision on October 29 regarding opening of this point, Pak army engineers were directed to establish bridge at the crossing point. He said Pakistan army started work on the bridge on November 4 which was completed on November 8. He said Pakistan army Engineers have established the bridge from one terminal to second on the other side.
He said exchange of relief goods from this crossing point will continue. He said it has been decided that two packages will be delivered from either side. Brig. Tabasum said the next dropping of relief goods and further delieveries will will be decided through hotline on day to day basis.
He said the relief goods sent by Pakistan included ration items, blankets, clothing etc. He said all relief goods are being exchanged for the quake affectees. He said the exchange of relief goods has been started after setting modalities between the two sides. He said Neelum valley roads are still blocked and relief goods are being provided to the affectees through helicopters. He expressed the hope that roads will soon be opened.
Deputy Commissioner Neelum, Raja Tariq Mehmood said registration office has been established in the area and as many as 130 application forms have been obtained from the office till Friday. He said out of total, 20 complete application forms have been returned to the registration office. Raja Tariq said “We have completed scrutiny process and prepared lists. From  our side the list is completed and people are ready to go to other side.” He said all facilities are being provided at registration office to facilitate the people who want to meet their family members on the other side.
Earlier, Director General ISPR Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan told journalists that another crossing point of Haji Pir Khawaja Bandi will be opened on November 16. He said Pakistan army has established 23 km long road in the area. Shaukat Sultan said exchange of goods is a symbolic step. He said Pakistan had tried to simplify the procedure. Terming the use of teargas by the police at one crossing point a few days ago a sad incident, he said that police had to maintain sanctity of LoC.
Major General Shaukat Sultan has said that India has made the rocess of opening and crossing the Line of Control (LoC) more perplex.Speaking to journalists here on Saturday at Chaklala Airbase, Shaukat Sultan said that objective of the opening the LOC is to facilitate the quake affected Kashmiris.
He informed that third point at LoC at Teetwal and Nosehri was opened on Saturday while fourth point of Tatapani and Mander would be opened on November 14 saying while Khwaja Bandi and Haji Pir sector would be opened on November 16.He reiterated that that Pakistani officials also carried out relief work in the quake-torn areas during the Eid holidays and constructed 23 km long road from Haji Pir area to Line of Control. He underscored that Pakistan has built a bridge to cross the LoC legally so that transportation from both sides of Kashmir could be eased.
Shaking hands firmly on a bailey bridge, that fleetingly become a bone of contention between the two countries, Indian and Pakistani army officials Saturday opened the third border meeting point along the LoC to ferry relief material across till “all the quake-hit are rehabilitated”. “The exchange of quake relief material for the survivors will continue indefinitely ...it will continue till all the people are rehabilitated,” Kupwara Deputy Commissioner Abdul Majid Khanday, told reporters here.
But, even while villagers from Teetwal and Nauseri on either side of the Kishenganga river cheered them on, the Army men refused to cross the cause way unlike the opening of Kaman Post on Nov 9 when officials from both sides crossed over into each other’s territory for handing over relief material. The relief material was carried by porters on foot across the bridge. The process began as scheduled at 1130 hrs with Lt Imran Grom from the Pakistani side, who supervised laying of the bridge, crossed it and tested its durability.
Colonel Shahid of Five Punjab (Pakistan) and Commanding Officer of 12 Kumaon J Nair shook hands, standing in the middle of the bridge amid loud cheers from those witnessing the opening of the relief point. Indian army officers were seen requesting their counterparts to come to this side and take the relief. However, they refused.—Agencies