NEWS

India, Pak to discuss rescue efforts

October 24, 2005

Indian and Pakistani officials will meet in Islamabad on October 29 to discuss facilitating cooperation between the two countries in the October 8 quake rescue operations.

This will include proposals made by both countries to open centres along the Line of Control for providing relief to the victims.

A delegation of senior officials from different ministries will visit Pakistan for talks on providing relief to the victims of the earthquake,'' External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

The officials will also discuss proposals made by the two governments to facilitate such cooperation across the LoC, the spokesman said.

''Both India and Pakistan have made specific proposals to facilitate such cooperation across the LoC.

"These proposals are being examined by the two governments and will also be discussed in the talks,'' Sarna said.

Asked whether Pakistan had responded to India's proposal of opening three points along the LoC at Kaman, Tithwal and Poonch, Sarna said, "We have made that proposal and are waiting for their (Pakistan's) concurrence before work can start since LoC is involved.''

Both India and Pakistan had on Saturday, almost in simultaneous moves, announced they would open points along the LoC to provide for coordination for quake relief work.

While India said it would set up three centres, Pakistan had offered five points along the LoC.

India had said if Pakistan agreed, the three centres could be set up by Tuesday.

The spokesman said that in another move, to mobilise international assistance for communities affected by the earthquake, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations had called for a ministerial-level meeting on October 26 at Geneva.

The meeting would be organised in cooperation with Pakistan.

 

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