Posted on 10/26/2005 6:14:55 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
SRINAGAR: The Indian army stopped work on a footbridge that would allow Pakistani earthquake victims to cross over into Indian Kashmir for relief after Pakistani soldiers objected, an army spokesman said on Wednesday.
"We have stopped work on the footbridge after objections from Pakistani soldiers," Indian army spokesman Vijay Batra said.
He said the bridge was being laid across the Kishan Ganga river in the northern Teetwal sector of Indian Kashmir to facilitate the passage of people from the Pakistani zone to one of three relief points being set up by India on the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Kashmir between the two countries.
Pakistan has proposed that Kashmiris be allowed to cross in either direction at five points along the heavily-militarised LoC to give assistance to their relatives affected by the disaster.
The October 8 earthquake killed some 54,000 people in Pakistan and 1,300 in India. Officials from the two sides are due to meet in Islamabad on Friday to discuss the various proposals.
Batra said the work on the footbridge was in its initial stage when Pakistani soldiers approached Indian soldiers and asked them not to proceed as no official clearance had been given.
As the bridge would span the LoC, its construction needs approval from both sides. Teetwal, which is situated right on the LoC, was also badly damaged in the quake, which left more than three million people homeless ahead of the approaching bitter winter.
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VERY misleading (ie LIE) headline - they must be learning from our MSM?
"...after objections from Pakistani soldiers..."
The headline should have honestly said "Pakistan Blocks Rescue Efforts"
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