Kashmir trade route reopens after 60 years

India and Pakistan opened a trade route across divided Kashmir for the first time in 60 years yesterday, in an attempt to bring a peace dividend to the Himalayan region that in recent months has seen an upsurge of anti-Indian rioting and heavy firing between the two nations' troops.

In the past few years India has been reluctant to open the Kashmiri border, believing it would see an influx of Islamic militants from Pakistan. Indian Kashmir has been scarred by violent insurgency since 1989 and peace is kept by hundreds of thousands of soldiers. But the violence has fallen sharply since the nuclear-armed states began a peace process in 2004.

Yesterday, fruit, nuts and honey were transported from Indian Kashmir, while Pakistani Kashmiri traders sent rice and rock salt across the de facto border. Security was tight as hundreds gathered on both sides - symbolising a wish for an end to the dispute that has led to three wars.

The lorries with their trade will be taking the same route as the bus service that links Srinagar, Indian Kashmir's summer capital, to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir. The visiting traders are expected to drive just a few miles inside rival territory and unload, from where other resident drivers will take over. Trade will be limited to one day a week.

"It is a big leap forward," said Mubeen Shah, president of India's Kashmir chamber of commerce."We will be sending 11 truck-loads across the Line of Control."

The new administration of Pakistan has surprised many in India with its emphasis on building trust through trade. President Asif Zardari has said he wants to see Pakistani-stitched jeans and Pakistani cement sold in India. "There is no other economic survival for nations like us. We have to trade with our neighbours first," he said

Source : http://www.guardian.co.uk
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Talks on Thai-Cambodia temple row

Generals from Thailand and Cambodia are to hold talks in an attempt to resolve a border dispute which led to soldiers exchanging shots and rocket-fire.

Cambodia claims two of its soldiers were killed on Wednesday in clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

The fighting prompted Thailand to urge its nationals to leave Cambodia.

Tensions have been high since July, when hundreds of soldiers on both sides faced off metres apart, but both sides say they want a peaceful solution.

Thailand and Cambodia both claim they own the area around the temple, which became a Unesco World Heritage site in June, reigniting lingering nationalist tensions.

The two countries have failed to reach a settlement, despite several rounds of talks.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said the talks scheduled for Thursday were a good sign. He described this week's clash as "an incident between soldiers and not an invasion by Thailand".

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" by the violence and urged both sides to show restraint.

'Good neighbour'

Both sides claim the other opened fire first on Wednesday, in an exchange that lasted about an hour. Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said two soldiers had been killed and two wounded while Thai officials said five Thai troops had been wounded.

Cambodia also claimed that 10 Thai soldiers had been captured, but this was denied by Bangkok.

After fighting broke out, Thailand alerted air force jets and readied transport planes to evacuate Thai nationals from Cambodia.

But Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the fighting was "small scale" and that he was committed to reaching a settlement over the issue with Cambodia, which he described as "a good neighbour".

'Death zone'

The military stand-off began in July when Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally.

More than 1,000 soldiers from both countries moved into the area, digging trenches into the rough terrain around the temple.

Cambodia claimed that Thai troops had recently returned to the area after both sides agreed in August to withdraw their personnel.

Thailand has denied that its troops entered Cambodian territory.

But on Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" if the Thai troops did not withdraw.

The dispute centres on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

The temple is only accessible from Thailand and the area around it is heavily mined - a legacy of Cambodia's long war against the Khmer Rouge guerrillas.

An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims.

Disputes between the two countries date back centuries when the Thai and Khmer monarchs fought each other for territory and power.

Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk
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