Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that Pakistan was ready to open the ceasefire line dividing Kashmir, allowing Indian Kashmiris to come and join aid efforts after the earthquake.

"We will allow any amount of people coming across the Line of Control to meet their relatives and assist with the reconstruction effort," Musharraf told reporters on a visit to the ravaged Pakistani Kashmir capital of Muzaffarabad.

He also proposed that the political leaders of both sides should interact to "assist each other with the reconstruction efforts," according to local TV reports.

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been the focal point of two wars between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947. Around one third is under Pakistani control and two thirds is controlled by India.

"No formal proposal has been made to New Delhi. It is being put across through you," Musharraf said, referring to the media. "The modalities of this need to be worked out...and we expect a response to be forthcoming from the Indian side."

Musharraf also said he wanted mobile telephone companies to open linkages to let Kashmir's divided families talk to one another after the quake.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said separately that mobile telephone service would be extended to Kashmiris living near the de facto border, known as the Line of Control.

India on Tuesday also committed itself to letting divided families get in touch. It said Kashmiris on the Indian side could telephone family members on the Pakistani side over the next two weeks.

Source: Xinhua