8 PoK guests among 34 cross sides on LoC in Kashmir

 

SRINAGAR:  Eight guests from Pakistan-occupied (PoK) arrived here and four from Kashmir crossed over to the  other side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector this afternoon.

As many as 22 returnees also crossed sides at Kaman Post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector, official sources told UNI.

Sources stated, with the onset of winter, the number of POK guests has declined as only eight residents had arrived here against 28 last week, including three women.

So far a total of 787 PoK residents had visited the Kashmir valley in 2013. Three residents of Kashmir, who had gone over to PoK, also returned to their homes after completing their visit with the relatives separated from them in 1947, sources said.

However, four locals from Kashmir, including two women and a child, crossed over to other side of the LoC to meet their relatives. With this a total of 223 residents from Kashmir had gone to PoK to meet their relatives during 2013.

They said 19 PoK inhabitants, who had come here in previous buses also returned to their homes today after completing their stay in Kashmir.

The bus service was introduced in 2005 after both India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of families divided in 1947 to meet each other on ‘travel permits’ instead of normal international passport.

(AGENCIES)