Wedding unites two Kashmirs

The marriage has bridged this dividing line

By Susannah Price in Islamabad

Political leaders from Indian and Pakistani-administered Kashmir have been celebrating a marriage which unites the families of two leading activists.

The bridegroom is on the other side of the Line of Control and the bride is from this side of the border. And both are Kashmiris. So it's more than a marriage

Groom's father Abdul Gani Lone

The wedding, in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, brought together the daughter of a pioneer of the Kashmir Movement with the son of a leading member of an umbrella group based in Srinagar.

The bride's father, Amanullah Khan, called for a meeting of all Kashmiri leaders present to discuss their future strategy.

This was no ordinary wedding celebration.

Before the prayers and speeches got under way many of the politicians and activists at the hotel were immersed in animated discussions.

The subject was always the disputed territory of Kashmir.

Rare opportunity

The father of the bride, Amanullah Khan, heads a faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Amanullah Khan called for a meeting of Kashmiri activists

He's one of the pioneers in the Kashmir Movement and now lives in Islamabad.

He invited more than 20 people from Indian-administered Kashmir to the celebrations and in a speech he asked all the Kashmiri leaders present to take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet and discuss their future strategy.

The groom's father, Abdul Gani Lone, was among those from the other side of the dividing line of control, or LOC.

He's a leading member of the umbrella separatist group, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, which expelled Amanullah Khan's faction.

'Rather unusual'

He said this encounter would definitely help unite the groups:

"It's a marriage rather unusual. The bridegroom is on the other side of the LOC and the bride is from this side of the border.

"And both are Kashmiris. So it's more than a marriage." Some activists were unable to come for the wedding, either because India didn't give them a passport or Pakistan refused the visa.

But for those who did make it, it provided a unique opportunity to sit together to discuss matters.

And the celebrations are due to continue on Monday in Islamabad.