A group of Kashmiri Pandits have asked India and Pakistan to allow their delegation to visit Pakistan occupied Kashmir to undertake repairs of the famous Sharda temple located in Neelam valley.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz Khan, president of Durga Nag Trust P N Taku has asked them to allow a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits to visit the temple, located on the banks of Krishan Ganga in Neelam valley of PoK.

"We have also requested both the prime ministers to facilitate the visit of the delegation to undertake a survey of the temple, which is revered by Kasmiri Pandits, so that we can make an assessment of the repairs to be made," Taku said.

The trust will incur all the expenditure for the repair and maintenance of the famous temple across the Line of Control, he said. Expressing hope that both governments will grant permission for the visit, Taku said this will further help in confidence building measures by the two sides across the Line of Control.

"We have requested both prime ministers to allow a delegation of 11 Kashmiri Pandits to visit the shrine this year on Gandhi Jayanti as part of a peace mission," said Ramesh Hangloo, the president of Pir Panchal � a socio-cultural organization.

He added that Pir Panchal had already submitted a memorandum to the President of India and the governor of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] in this regard.