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Quake victims repelled from border

INDIA-PAKISTAN LINE OF CONTROL - Pakistani police fired tear gas to disperse Kashmiri villagers trying to cross into Indian territory illegally, marring an unprecedented frontier ceremony by the South Asian nuclear rivals to exchange aid after the region's devastating Oct. 8 earthquake.

U.N. agencies, meanwhile, announced a shortfall of $42.4-million for relief aid in the month of November, warning the death toll could surge as the onset of the bitter Himalayan winter cuts off communities.

Several hundred protesters gathered on the Pakistan side of the Punch Valley in disputed Kashmir, frustrated by a delay in plans to let civilians cross the frontier as part of relief efforts. Nobody was reported hurt, but authorities arrested at least two men carrying young boys who made a dash to the Indian side of the region.

The trouble broke out less than an hour after Indian and Pakistani officials shook hands across a length of white tape run across a ceremonial dirt square. India then started handing over 25 truckloads of tents, blankets, food and medicine, while Pakistan sent one truck of relief goods to India.

"Some enthusiasts tried to cross. It's a military zone and we fired tear gas as we didn't want anyone to lose a limb," Pakistani army Brig. Tahir Naqvi, the area commander, said. He added that while the area had been cleared of land mines, "you don't want to take chances."

Some gunfire rang out though police denied they had fired anything but tear gas canisters.

The border opening that Pakistan and India agreed to last month was supposed to have been a much grander gesture: letting Kashmiris cross at five points to check on long-lost relatives and visit relief camps set up along the frontier.

But India said Saturday it was prepared to open only one crossing, and on Sunday officials on both sides said bureaucratic wrangling would delay chances for people to cross, partly because India was concerned that Muslim militants might head into Indian territory.

Sharma said once-a-week crossings of civilians should be allowed in about a week and an additional frontier point, the Tattapani-Meandher crossing, should open by then.

Many Kashmiris say they want to cross the border, called the Line of Control, to see if relatives on the other side survived the quake.

[Last modified November 8, 2005, 02:15:36]