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Amnesties herald partition week Amnesties herald partition week
(2 days later)
Pakistan has allowed 134 Indian prisoners to return home as the nations prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of independence, officials say.Pakistan has allowed 134 Indian prisoners to return home as the nations prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of independence, officials say.
Most strayed across the border or are fishermen and India is set to return a similar number on Tuesday.Most strayed across the border or are fishermen and India is set to return a similar number on Tuesday.
Pakistan will begin its anniversary at midnight on Monday while India will follow a day later.Pakistan will begin its anniversary at midnight on Monday while India will follow a day later.
The violent partition saw 10 million people move across borders in one of history's largest mass migrations.The violent partition saw 10 million people move across borders in one of history's largest mass migrations.
'Real freedom''Real freedom'
Correspondents say the latest prisoner exchange happened with little fanfare near the city of Lahore at Wagah, the main border crossing between the two countries.Correspondents say the latest prisoner exchange happened with little fanfare near the city of Lahore at Wagah, the main border crossing between the two countries.
India is due to return more than 100 Pakistanis on Tuesday, to complete the prisoner exchange, Pakistani foreign affairs official Ghulam Muhammad told the AP news agency.India is due to return more than 100 Pakistanis on Tuesday, to complete the prisoner exchange, Pakistani foreign affairs official Ghulam Muhammad told the AP news agency.
Nations apart Nations apart
Among those sent back on Monday was 59-year-old Tarsem Singh, who said he had spent the past seven years in a Pakistani prison after straying across the border when he was drunk.Among those sent back on Monday was 59-year-old Tarsem Singh, who said he had spent the past seven years in a Pakistani prison after straying across the border when he was drunk.
"I'm very happy to come back," he said. "Independence has brought real freedom for me," he told AP."I'm very happy to come back," he said. "Independence has brought real freedom for me," he told AP.
Tuesday will be a national holiday in Pakistan, which will hold a 21-gun salute and flag-raising ceremonies throughout the country.Tuesday will be a national holiday in Pakistan, which will hold a 21-gun salute and flag-raising ceremonies throughout the country.
India will hold similar celebrations on Wednesday.India will hold similar celebrations on Wednesday.
Fittingly loftyFittingly lofty
Partition unleashed an orgy of violence as millions of people moved across the new borders between Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.Partition unleashed an orgy of violence as millions of people moved across the new borders between Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.
It was one of the most violent upheavals of the 20th century as the departing British split the subcontinent with India wedged between West and East Pakistan, which later was to become Bangladesh.It was one of the most violent upheavals of the 20th century as the departing British split the subcontinent with India wedged between West and East Pakistan, which later was to become Bangladesh.
Estimates of the dead range from 200,000 to more than one million.Estimates of the dead range from 200,000 to more than one million.
The words spoken to mark independence were fittingly lofty.The words spoken to mark independence were fittingly lofty.
"Long years ago," said India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, "we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge.""Long years ago," said India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, "we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge."
Some of the tension between India and Pakistan has dissipated Some of the tension between India and Pakistan has dissipated href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6940000/newsid_6946600?redirect=6946653.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Border ceremony
Pakistan's leader, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, used equally stirring language.Pakistan's leader, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, used equally stirring language.
"The creation of the new state has placed a tremendous responsibility on the citizens of Pakistan."The creation of the new state has placed a tremendous responsibility on the citizens of Pakistan.
"Our object should be peace within and peace without.""Our object should be peace within and peace without."
The mass bloodshed in 1947 was only the beginning of bitter hostility between the two South Asian rivals.The mass bloodshed in 1947 was only the beginning of bitter hostility between the two South Asian rivals.
After 20 years of independence, they were embroiled in the second of their three wars.After 20 years of independence, they were embroiled in the second of their three wars.
Soon after the 50th anniversary of independence, the two countries came perilously close to nuclear war as each engaged in tit-for-tat nuclear weapons tests.Soon after the 50th anniversary of independence, the two countries came perilously close to nuclear war as each engaged in tit-for-tat nuclear weapons tests.
But correspondents say that with the 60th anniversary, some of the bitterness between the two countries is finally mellowing.But correspondents say that with the 60th anniversary, some of the bitterness between the two countries is finally mellowing.
Pakistan is dealing with increased Islamic militancy and questions over how long President Musharraf can remain head of the army and head of his country.Pakistan is dealing with increased Islamic militancy and questions over how long President Musharraf can remain head of the army and head of his country.
As India races to become an economic powerhouse, analysts say it must also deal with around one third of its population of one billion people who live on less than one dollar a day.As India races to become an economic powerhouse, analysts say it must also deal with around one third of its population of one billion people who live on less than one dollar a day.