Survivors restless on Kashmir border

Three weeks after northern Pakistan was struck by a devastating earthquake the people of Chakothi are getting impatient.

The town is the last one up Pakistani Kashmir's Jhelum valley before the border with Indian-controlled Kashmir and it is still inaccessible by road.

Pakistani army engineers have cleared landslides, and cut new sections of road out of rocky slopes along a stretch that extends dozens of kilometres from the region's capital up the valley. But the road is still blocked for the last 11 km to Chakothi and the only way for aid to reach the wrecked town's quake survivors is on foot, across numerous landslides, or by helicopter.

Supplies are short and people are getting angry. The men, part of a crowd of several hundred outside the camp gates, said they were waiting for tents and food.

Pakistani forces have for years been facing off against Indian troops across the border, which is only 1.5 km from Chakothi. Pakistan and Indian have fought two of their three wars over divided Kashmir.

Indian artillery shells regularly used to arc over mountains from the Indian side and fall on Chakothi until a late 2003 ceasefire along the Kashmir border, which neither side recognises, known as the Line of Control.

The Pakistani army, which also suffered heavy casualties in the quake, especially along the heavily militarised Line of Control, says it is doing all it can but substantial aid won't arrive until the road is cleared.

Residents said it would take another 10 days to open the road.