Despite all claims to enhanced peace in the region, during times of crisis, the government of Pakistan has not been able to transcend the usual language of diplomatese and the disease of suspicion. Lalita Ramdas points out the ridiculous of this all.

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, my inbox is full up with information about the scale and extent of the tragedy post earthquake, as also with appeals from groups across both countries, who are collecting and will be sending truck loads of blankets, clothes and supplies. A friend from Islamabad writes :" The rescue efforts are pathetic - people trying to get into the collapsed mountain of concrete using picks and shovels. It shows how unprepared the society is for any kind of disaster. And yet the fools talk of surviving nuclear war."

From whatever I can deduce from the flood of traffic on the net about the earthquake - there is no dearth of willingness to donate and to help those who have suffered the most unimaginable loss to life and property. Those groups who have the wherewithal and the experience to organise collection and dispatch of basic supplies for those most affected, must clearly continue with their good and desperately needed efforts.

Says another friend from Lahore:

"however the current situation is that most of the effected areas are still inaccessible by vehicles and what's more, the govenment/army have still not gotten their act together and coordination of relief efforts is inefficient to say the least. so there's a huge question mark over whether the goodwill of those who want to help will ever reach those who need it in time ?"

What is coming through clearly is that our entrenched suspicions about each other have once again got in the way of reaching prompt, immediate help to the places where it is most needed. One look at the map tells us that with other roads being blocked or severely damaged, one of the logical approaches into Pak administered Kashmir - esp Muzaffarabad - is from the `Indian' side of Kashmir - across the line of Control.

And yet, in replays of the interviews with Foreign Minister Kasuri in Islamabad and a press conference featuring Indian Foreign Secretary - Shyam Saran - all that we saw and heard was the palpable `officialese '- the suave, careful words - politically correct and devoid of any iota of feeling. "Of course we will take help - and yes they have appreciated the offer" - "But sir, are you planning to work together - access your part of KAshmir from the Indian side?" - well not really, I don’t know the topography and the High Commissioners and Foreign secretaries will meet and work it out. "

Surely this is a moment when these charades must stop - when sheer humanity demands that all protocol be put aside and the most effective, the most practical, and the fastest possible means be used to reach to people - fly/helicopter in equipment, supplies and teams who are qualified to do the job efficiently in the shortest time possible. And if that expertise lies with the army - then let the relevant generals and Brigadiers in the DMOs be authorised to go ahead - deal with it as a joint operation - and get to work. Alright - they get to see our bunkers and establishments and we theirs! They are all alike - and many of them have probably been destroyed anyway.

This is truly a moment for all of us who are engaged in the larger movement for Peace in the region, to use every means at our disposal, to place this as highest priority, to put the pressure on our governments jointly and powerfully - to stop playing games and to seriously come to grips with doing what is needed. This might mean - teams of us who are in the capitals of both countries, to immediately seek appointments with the top people - with a common message and request - based as far as possible on accurate information from the ground - where there are enough and more to provide the inputs.

Nature has ignored borders as she has dealt her hand - teaching us lessons which we refuse to heed. If nature has not heeded the irrelevant lines created by us mortals - surely it is time for us to do likewise?

It is almost as if the Forces of Nature are providing us a rare opportunity to make this a new Peace initiative with immense potential to bring both peoples and countries together in one vast humanitarian effort.

- Lalita/Lolly Ramdas, `Lara' - Ramu Farm, Bhaimala Village, P.O.Kamarle, Alibag 402201, Raigad Dist, Maharashtra, INDIA

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