No civilians likely to cross Kashmir frontier on schedule: Pakistan Foreign Ministry

It is unlikely any civilians will be allowed to cross the Kashmir frontier between India and Pakistan on schedule because of procedural glitches, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday, a day ahead of the much-anticipated opening.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told The Associated Press that neither country had sent each other lists of those people approved to cross over.

"It doesn't look likely. We have not yet received any list from India and our list has not gone to India," she said, adding that she hoped the paperwork would be exchanged on Monday. Each country would then have as long as 10 days to process the names, though they could theoretically do it faster.

Aslam said relief goods to help quake victims on either side of divided Kashmir were expected to be allowed to go through.

The announcement was the latest disappointment since India and Pakistan agreed late last month to open the heavily militarized Kashmir frontier to speed relief supplies to victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake. Originally, five crossing points were to be used, but India on Saturday said that just one would be ready, AP reported. V.A.