Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said India has offered to Pakistan relief in earthquake-affected areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which were better accessible from the Indian side of the Line of Control.
"It depends on Pakistan's decisions. We have to respect them. If they agree to this, there will be positive response from our side," Dr Singh told reporters in Srinagar after visiting quake-hit areas in Tangdhar and Uri close to the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Singh was replying to a question if New Delhi has offered any assistance to provide relief to affected areas in PoK, which could be approached better from the Indian side.
The prime minister said the army chief and director general of Military Intelligence have made such an offer to Pakistan.
Recalling his telephonic conversation with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf hours after the quake struck on Saturday, Dr Singh said he had later met Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan, who indicated certain immediate requirements, which were accepted by India.
About reports of terror camps being destroyed in PoK in the quake and militants falling victims, Dr Singh said he did not have detailed information in this regard. He said loss of lives was a source of grief for all and nobody should make political capital out of it.
Asked about the restoration of the disrupted Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, he said the road was very badly damaged. "In this hour of grief, the humanitarian aspect should predominate and political and other aspects should be kept subservient to this."
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