Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 21: For second consecutive week, cross-LoC bus on Poonch-Rawlakote route remained suspended despite considerable reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan on the LoC in Poonch sector. The trade would also remain suspended this week.
As many as 123 civilians from both parts of divided Kashmir remained stranded in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the absence of weekly bus service, which plied every Monday, before it was suspended on January 14 after Pakistan authorities refused to open gates.
Official sources said the cross-LoC bus linking two parts of divided State, which was suspended on January 14 this year, didn’t ply even today. There will be no trade between two parts of divided State this week as well. Pakistan authorities had suspended the trade on January 10, two days after two Indian Army jawans were brutally killed by Pakistan Army at the LoC in Mankot area of Poonch sector.
The trade remained suspended for third consecutive week. Sixty-five trucks loaded with goods for exports to PoK had to be returned and emptied by the traders after Pakistan authorities had abruptly closed the gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh.
Sources said the Trade Facilitation Authorities in PoK, who also deal with cross-LoC bus service, haven’t established any contact with the authorities on this side so far on resumption of bus and trade.
Of 123 civilians stranded due to suspension of cross-LoC bus, 68 PoK citizens were held up on this side while 53 civilians from this part of the State were waiting for their return in parts of PoK, where they had gone to meet their divided family members and relatives, sources said.
The stranded civilians on both sides of the State have established contact with district administration to facilitate their return back to their homes. The family members of civilians stranded on other side of the LoC were also worried and have repeatedly approached the authorities to ensure their safe return.
Worthwhile to mention here that Pakistan Army had intruded into Indian side at Mankot and brutally killed two Army jawans on January 8. They had taken away head of Lance Naik Hem Raj besides two service weapons and ammunition of the jawans with them.
On January 10, Pakistan authorities under the influence of Pakistan Army had refused to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh for import-export of trade items on Poonch-Rawlakote route claiming that their vehicles fall within the firing range of the Indian Army.
Since then the gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh remained closed and there was no trade between two sides as well as the weekly LoC service.
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