SRINAGAR, Oct 22: Hardline separatist leader Nayeem Khan said on Saturday he and his supporters would cross the Line of Control (LoC) from the Indian zone next week to help earthquake survivors on the Pakistani side rebuild their homes and lives, despite no go ahead from the Indian authorities.

“I will lead the first batch of my activists to Azad Kashmir via Lalpul on Oct 25,” said Khan, who heads the separatist National Front.

“We want to go and help our grief-stricken brothers. We want to help them rebuild their homes and lives,” said Mr Khan, known to be a hardliner among the two dozen or so separatist leaders in held Kashmir.

Mr Khan said he would not ask permission from India to cross over the demarcation line, which is highly patrolled and peppered with landmines that officials warn may have shifted during the Oct 8 earthquake.

“There is no need to ask for any permission from India. We are going for a noble cause. If Pakistan has any objection to our visit we will not go,” he told AFP.

Mr Khan said he would give an undertaking in writing to the Indian authorities that he and all his activists would return after accomplishing their job.

Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday India would not allow the unchecked flow of people through the LoC.