November 30, 2003	Sunday	Shawwal 5, 1424

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MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 29: In a rare goodwill gesture, the Indian and Pakistani border guards on Saturday allowed some divided Kashmiri families to exchange greetings with each other from their respective side of the Line of Control.

The exceptional event took place in Karen village, some 95 kilometres from here in the northeastern Neelum valley between 10am to midday, officials and witnesses said.

The divided Kashmiri families gathered on their respective side of River Neelum and through loud voices and gestures exchanged Eid greetings and inquired the well being of each other, a police official who was present on the occasion told Dawn by telephone.

The gathering on both sides became possible only after a historic ceasefire along the LoC, working boundary and Siachen Glacier, the official said.

The span of River Neelum is significantly narrow in Karen village and loud voices from one side could be heard on the other.

The official said there were at least 60 to 70, all refugees from held Kashmir, on the AJK side of the river who spent two hours to talk to their loved ones on the other side in the occupied territory.

Hundreds of people from Indian held Karen sector fled to Azad Kashmir to escape Indian repression unleashed after the beginning of freedom struggle in 1989.

The migrants waved to their relatives and some of them could not resist their tears after seeing their relatives after a long time.

Meanwhile, official sources said on Saturday that there was complete calm along the LoC. They said: “The otherwise restive LoC is completely calm and so far there has not been a single incident of firing of even a bullet from any side.”