The earthquake that struck Kashmir five days ago respected no borders, killing without discrimination on both the Indian and Pakistani sides of the disputed territory. The earth moved, killing as many as 30,000 Kashmiris, but the two governments have shown no sign of shifting positions in this 58-year dispute.

Pakistan belatedly accepted assistance from India in the form of food, tents and medical supplies. But the bigger opportunity for a rapprochement across the Line of Control was squandered when it rejected any role for the Indian military in search and rescue operations in the 72-96 hours that followed the disaster.