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India fixes dates with Pakistan for quake survivors to cross Kashmir border
NEW DELHI (AFP) Nov 17, 2005
India said after finalising dates with Pakistan that quake-affected people would be able cross the de facto Kashmir border from Thursday and receive treatment at relief camps on the Indian side.

Foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said people would be allowed to cross at the Uri-Chakhoti point on November 17 and December 1 and at the Uri-Hajipur point on November 24 and December 8.

The Tithwal-Nauseri crossing would be open November 19 and 26 and December 3 and 10, the Poonch-Rawalakote crossing on November 21 and December 5 and Mendhar-Tattapani November 28 and December 12, he added.

The two South Asian rivals opened the fifth and final crossing Wednesday for aid supplies to pass across the ceasefire Line of Control (LoC) which splits Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

India's foreign ministry said relief material would be sent by rail Thursday as part of humanitarian aid offered by New Delhi to Islamabad following the October 8 earthquake which killed 73,000 people in Pakistan.

Some 1,300 people were killed and 5,000 others were injured in the 7.6-strength earthquake in the Indian zone of the divided Himalayan territory.

Earlier this week, Indian and Pakistani officials exchanged relief items including blankets and rations at the fifth opening on the LoC.

Each of the five crossing points would open once-a-week for relief supplies. They will be open to people on the announced dates.

Pakistan's foreign ministry Monday said it had approved the names of 83 Kashmiris whom India had approved for crossing the LoC, while it had sent a list of 70 Pakistani Kashmiris to India.

The move to open the crossings after almost 60 years was seen as a boost to the peace process between the historic enemies, who have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.

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