SRINAGAR: The weekly Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) left here for Kaman Post, the last Indian military post on this side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector to cross over to other side.
The bus had to return back from Kaman Post last week without crossing to other side because of no response from Pakistan Army following killing of four foreign infiltrators and three soldiers in the encounter in Naugam sector in North Kashmir district of Kupwara on May 21 while six militants were gunned down in Uri on May 27.
They said despite an encounter early this morning in north Kashmir district of Bandipora in which four militants were killed by security forces, the weekly bus left here this morning to Kaman Post to cross over to other side of the LoC.
The bus carrying 13 passengers, including 9 women and two children, has since reached Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Uri, they said adding the exact number of those travelling to POK would be known only in the afternoon.
Passengers who were to travel POK last week were adjusted in today’s bus, they said adding this was the third time the ” Aman Bus” was suspended in the month of May.
The bus could not operate on May 8 for security reasons as the Army had launched a search operation at village Adoora in Uri sector after a firing incident.
It also could not operate on May 1 following a communication from POK authorities regarding suspension of service on account of International Workers’ Day.
The bus service, a major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between India and Pakistan after 1999 Kargil War, continued despite unrest in Kashmir in 2016 and tension on the LoC, due to ceasefire violation and subsequent surgical strike by Indian troops in the POK.
The cross-LoC bus service, started on April 7, 2005 despite opposition by militant organisations, has helped thousands of families, divided in 1947 due to Partition, 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, the travel permit is issued to the State subject from both sides of the LoC only after their names are cleared by the intelligence agencies from India and Pakistan. However, only State subjects from both sides could avail the cross-LoC facility. (AGENCIES)
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