SONYA FATAH

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
SONYA FATAH 

Special to The Globe and Mail

ISLAMABAD — In an unusual and hopeful sign of warming relations between India and Pakistan, Pakistan’s President, General Pervez Musharraf, announced yesterday that he would open up the line of control on the Pakistani side so that Kashmiris from India can help relatives and friends with earthquake reconstruction efforts. He also proposed that the political leaders of both sides should interact to “assist each other with the reconstruction efforts.”

“We welcome the offer,” India promptly replied, according to Reuters. “This is in line with India’s advocacy of greater movement across the LOC for relief work and closer people-to-people contacts.”

India and Pakistan also announced the setup of mobile telecommunication facilities on either side of the LOC so that people could talk to each other.

Gen. Musharraf’s offer to open the LOC came 10 days after a devastating earthquake savaged major cities in the North-West Frontier Province and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

It was the kind of offer eagerly anticipated by those hoping for a bout of quake diplomacy, although there have been signs of warming in the buildup to yesterday’s breakthrough.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, was quick to call the Pakistani President and offer his condolences. In addition, India has sent three instalments of relief supplies — tents, blankets and medicine.

The first aircraft bringing in relief supplies from New Delhi was not able to land because of a shortage of spaces at Islamabad airport, but a second attempt proved fruitful.

India’s second offer was to push for joint rescue operations across the border. That was rejected.

On Monday, Pakistan issued a statement saying Indian helicopters would be welcome to join the relief operation as long as they come without Indian military or commercial pilots.

“There is no formal Indian offer for helicopters,” clarified Tasneem Aslam, Foreign Ministry spokesperson. She said her office had issued a statement to clarify its position based on discussions on the issue in the media, she said.

Why no Indian pilots? “There are sensitivities, and given the historical background of relations between India and Pakistan, we cannot accept Indian military involvement in rescue efforts, and we cannot accept pilots.”

Gen. Musharraf echoed these sentiments during his press conference. “We have accepted their assistance, except their men coming across, and I don’t think you can begrudge us that. Other than that, we have accepted everything.”

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Those wars and Indo-Pakistani hostility stem from a six-decade battle over Kashmir, the region most devastated by the earthquake.

Pakistan believes that Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, is its birthright, and India, a predominantly Hindu nation, looks to Kashmir as a major contributor to the secular nature of its national fabric.

The Oct. 8 earthquake caused unprecedented destruction to Pakistan’s northern terrain and most of the casualties and collective sense of loss was felt in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. To date, the official death toll in Pakistan is estimated at more than 50,000 but this number is expected to rise as news from remote villages comes in.

Across the border, Indian Kashmiris suffered major losses as well; about 1,500 were killed, many more injured and houses destroyed.

Early this week in Pahal, a border town in this region, there was an acute awareness of India’s proximity and Pakistan’s inability to meet the challenge presented by the quake. For Mir Hasan, whose 11-year old daughter was crushed under the rubble of her school building, the sight of Indian helicopters arriving on the scene of their own disaster was painful. Pakistani helicopters didn’t reach Pahal until two days later, by which time many of the injured had developed infected wounds.

Still, India accepting Pakistan’s latest offer means peace is on an upswing.

“I think the disaster will soften things on both sides,” said retired Major-General Mahmud Durrani, who has been a proponent of Indo-Pakistani peace since finishing up his years of service in the armed forces.

“I don’t overexpect. I don’t expect things to change overnight. That happens in movies.”

Popularity: 3% [?]

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
SONYA FATAH, Special to The Globe and Mail

ISLAMABAD — In an unusual and hopeful sign of warming relations between India and Pakistan, Pakistan’s President, General Pervez Musharraf, announced yesterday that he would open up the line of control on the Pakistani side so that Kashmiris from India can help relatives and friends with earthquake reconstruction efforts. He also proposed that the political leaders of both sides should interact to “assist each other with the reconstruction efforts.”

“We welcome the offer,” India promptly replied, according to Reuters. “This is in line with India’s advocacy of greater movement across the LOC for relief work and closer people-to-people contacts.”

India and Pakistan also announced the setup of mobile telecommunication facilities on either side of the LOC so that people could talk to each other.

Gen. Musharraf’s offer to open the LOC came 10 days after a devastating earthquake savaged major cities in the North-West Frontier Province and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

It was the kind of offer eagerly anticipated by those hoping for a bout of quake diplomacy, although there have been signs of warming in the buildup to yesterday’s breakthrough.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, was quick to call the Pakistani President and offer his condolences. In addition, India has sent three instalments of relief supplies — tents, blankets and medicine.

The first aircraft bringing in relief supplies from New Delhi was not able to land because of a shortage of spaces at Islamabad airport, but a second attempt proved fruitful.

India’s second offer was to push for joint rescue operations across the border. That was rejected.

On Monday, Pakistan issued a statement saying Indian helicopters would be welcome to join the relief operation as long as they come without Indian military or commercial pilots.

“There is no formal Indian offer for helicopters,” clarified Tasneem Aslam, Foreign Ministry spokesperson. She said her office had issued a statement to clarify its position based on discussions on the issue in the media, she said.

Why no Indian pilots? “There are sensitivities, and given the historical background of relations between India and Pakistan, we cannot accept Indian military involvement in rescue efforts, and we cannot accept pilots.”

Gen. Musharraf echoed these sentiments during his press conference. “We have accepted their assistance, except their men coming across, and I don’t think you can begrudge us that. Other than that, we have accepted everything.”

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Those wars and Indo-Pakistani hostility stem from a six-decade battle over Kashmir, the region most devastated by the earthquake.

Pakistan believes that Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, is its birthright, and India, a predominantly Hindu nation, looks to Kashmir as a major contributor to the secular nature of its national fabric.

The Oct. 8 earthquake caused unprecedented destruction to Pakistan’s northern terrain and most of the casualties and collective sense of loss was felt in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. To date, the official death toll in Pakistan is estimated at more than 50,000 but this number is expected to rise as news from remote villages comes in.

Across the border, Indian Kashmiris suffered major losses as well; about 1,500 were killed, many more injured and houses destroyed.

Early this week in Pahal, a border town in this region, there was an acute awareness of India’s proximity and Pakistan’s inability to meet the challenge presented by the quake. For Mir Hasan, whose 11-year old daughter was crushed under the rubble of her school building, the sight of Indian helicopters arriving on the scene of their own disaster was painful. Pakistani helicopters didn’t reach Pahal until two days later, by which time many of the injured had developed infected wounds.

Still, India accepting Pakistan’s latest offer means peace is on an upswing.

“I think the disaster will soften things on both sides,” said retired Major-General Mahmud Durrani, who has been a proponent of Indo-Pakistani peace since finishing up his years of service in the armed forces.

“I don’t overexpect. I don’t expect things to change overnight. That happens in movies.”

Popularity: 3% [?]