Porters from Indian side hand aid packages to their counerparts on Pakistan side over the Kashmir border as journalists stand by.

Hundreds of Pakistani Kashmir villagers at the Rawalakot-Punch crossing broke into a chant, "We want a free Kashmir," and Pakistani police responded by firing tear gas canisters. The villagers dispersed and headed away from the border crossing.

Earlier that day, India began handing over aid packages to Pakistan as part of much-heralded opening of their frontier -- a mostly symbolic act of cooperation after the quake.

Pakistan Brig. Tahir Naqvi shook hands with Indian Col. Santnu Ghose across a white line painted at the Rawalakot-Punch border crossing set up near the Punch River, and they declared it open for aid exchanges.

Trucks backed up to the line and porters from the Indian side handed sacks packed with tents to counterparts on the Pakistani side, who loaded them on their truck.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 12, 2005
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