ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Pakistan on Monday said that Pakistan has accepted Indian proposal to open Line of Control (LoC) twice a month. Speaking at the weekly briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam referred to the agreement between Pakistan and India on the opening of five crossing points along the LoC, the spokesperson said adding that the government of AJK had designated five authorities for processing of applications for the five crossing points.
She said after the first crossing point (Rawalakot-Poonch) was operationalized on Nov 7 and on Nov 8, India conveyed the following schedule for the operationalization of the remaining four points: Nov 9, Kaman (Chakoti-Uri); Nov 12, Nauseri-Tithwal; Nov 14, Tattapani-Mandher; and Nov 16, Hajipir-Uri.
“We conveyed our agreement to the above schedule and the crossings have been opening in accordance with it with the exchange of relief goods,” Ms Aslam said.
She said on Nov 10, the Indian side conveyed three lists containing names of 83 IoK residents who intended to cross from the first three crossings that had been opened, adding that the list had been cleared by AJK authorities within three days (counting out the holidays) and conveyed to the Indian side on Monday.
Ms Aslam informed the media that the Indian side had proposed to operate one crossing point each in Jammu and Kashmir region once a week due to “logistical difficulties and staff constraints”. Noting that while Pakistan would have preferred that all crossings remained opened throughout the week, she said in view of constraints cited by India, Pakistan had agreed to it.
The schedule for the crossings up to Dec 12, is: Nauseri-Tithwal (Saturdays) Nov 19 & 26 and Dec 3 and 10,; Rawalakot-Poonch (Mondays) Nov 21 and Dec 5; Tattapani-Mendhar (Mondays) Nov 28 and Dec 12,; Chakoti-Uri (Thursdays) Nov 17, 2005 and Dec 1; Hajipir-Uri (Thursdays) Nov 24, and Dec 8.
Answering a question Ms Aslam said the Oct 29, 2005 agreement between Pakistan and India on the opening of Line of Control does not indicate that it is time bound or confined merely to earthquake relief efforts.
“If you see the joint statement it did not give any timeframe and we hope that it will be on long-term basis,” she said.
Answering to another question she said Pakistan understood the constraints and problems on the Indian side and it was not advisable not to read too much into it. She sounded confident that India would remain committed to the LoC agreement.
Ms Aslam underlined that the idea behind the proposal mooted by President Musharraf was to facilitate contact between the divided Kashmiri families. “For Pakistan the welfare and comfort of Kashmiris remains a top priority,” she stated.
The spokesperson pointed out that although the LoC points had been opened for only foot-crossings, Pakistani side had made Chakoti and Uri “jeepable” all the way.
