SRINAGAR : The Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), will not run today due to tense situation on the Line of Control (LoC), following killing of three soldiers in an encounter with the infiltrators, who were allegedly provided cover fire by Pakistani troops.
This is for the second consecutive week, when the peace bus, a major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) introduced on April 7, 2005 by India and Pakistan, will not operate, much to the disappointment of passengers, who were scheduled to travel to meet their relatives, separated in 1947.
Last week, the bus could not operate due to ‘Youm-e-Tahsees (Pakistan celebrates October 24 as establishment of PoK, every year)’ in PoK.
Official sources said that the bus will not operate today, as per order received by the Government. However, there was no mention why it has been cancelled.
Sources said the bus has been cancelled due to tense situation on the LoC, where three soldiers were killed and a woman was injured in militant attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops in Keran, Tangdhar and Machil sectors during the past 72 hours.
However, the Indian Army on the night of October 29, claimed that in retaliatory strike, four Pakistani posts were destroyed, inflicting heavy casualty on enemy troops.
Sources said all the passengers, who were scheduled to travel in the peace bus today, have been informed.
However, despite unrest since July 9 in Kashmir Valley, where 86 people were killed and over 9,000 others injured in security force and police action, since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag, the bus run continued, barring July 11 and 18.
The bus service on these days was suspended, owing to strike by the separatists for security reasons, while on July 4 and September 12, in view of Eid festivals.
However, the weekly bus service was not affected, even after the fidayeen attack on Army Brigade Headquarters at Uri on September 18, which left 19 soldiers dead and over 20 wounded.
Four Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, believed to be foreigners, were also killed in the encounter. The fidayeen attack was followed by surgical attack by Indian troops in PoK.
However, Pakistan has denied any such strike and claimed that two of their soldiers were killed in cross border shelling.
During the unrest, the bus from Srinagar to Kaman Post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC, is now leaving Srinagar early in the morning, to avoid any violence on way, in view of the strike.
Similarly, people coming from PoK have to wait at Uri before starting journey towards their respective destinations late in the night, to avoid stone pelting.
The bus service has helped thousands of families divided due to Partition in 1947 to meet each other after India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of state subjects from both sides on travel permits, instead of international passport.
However, people are allowed to travel only after their names are cleared from intelligence agencies from both the sides. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
