Shah says Centre will take J&K Govt into confidence
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, July 31: Cross-LoC bus service of Uri-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir was also suspended while the similar bus on Poonch-Rawlakote route in Jammu region remained suspended for fourth consecutive week today, keeping 116 Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) citizens stranded in Poonch and Rajouri districts and three civilians of this side in PoK.
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Official sources told the Excelsior that for fourth consecutive week, Pakistan army and PoK authorities didn’t open the gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district from where cross-LoC bus crosses over to Rawlakote in PoK. The bus service was suspended after heavy mortar shelling and firing between India and Pakistan.
A total of 116 PoK residents, who travelled on the Paigam-e-Aman bus service to visit their relatives in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, have been held up here for the three weeks. They again turned up at Poonch City Ground for boarding the bus but returned to the houses of their relatives after getting report that the bus will not ply.
“The cross-LoC bus service remained suspended for the fourth week today,” Custodian LoC Trade Poonch, Mohammad Tanveer said.
The cross-LoC bus service was suspended on July 10 due to heavy firing and shelling from the Pakistani side and since then every Monday, PoK citizens have been turning up at Poonch to board the bus to return to their homes but the bus hasn’t been moving. Since July 11, cross-LoC trade has also been suspended between J&K and PoK traders on Poonch-Rawlakote route.
“There has been no firing and shelling by Pakistan troops in the Poonch sector since July 21.
Last week, the travelers from PoK had held a protest demonstration in Poonch town demanding the resumption of the cross-LoC bus service between the two sides so that they could return to their homes in PoK.
“We have taken up the matter with the officials concerned on the other side and the matter will hopefully be resolved soon,” sources said.
They added that for the time being stranded residents have been allowed to stay on this side with their relatives.
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the worst border skirmishes between India and Pakistan along the LoC in recent weeks as nine soldiers were among 11 people killed and 16 injured. About 35 structures were damaged and more than 110 livestock killed.
The Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point was started in 2006 to facilitate easier trade and travel between the divided families of Jammu and Kashmir and PoK.
Cross-LoC trade and travel are considered major confidence building exercises between India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, after the suspension of the trans-Line of Control (LoC) trade following arrest of a Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) driver in narcotics seizure case, the Karvan-e-Aman bus, between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad was suspended today.
The LoC trade is suspended since July 21 when over 60 kg of drugs were recovered from a truck at Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) in Salamabad Uri.
The weekly bus has been suspended today after a message was received from PoK that there is a holiday today in PoK on account of 14th death anniversary of founding president of PoK Sardar Mohammad Ibrahim Khan.
They said all those who were scheduled to travel in the bus from this side have accordingly been informed. They will be adjusted in the next bus, they said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani army today violated a ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district
The violation came just hours after a previous burst of firing from across the border last night.
The Pakistan army violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Rajouri’s Kalsia area around 1445 hours today, sources said.
Pakistani forces had violated the ceasefire yesterday by firing from light weapons and MMGs (medium machine guns) in the Baba Khori belt of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district at around 2230 hours, they added.
Meanwhile, BJP national president Amit Shah told a press conference in Lucknow today that the Centre would take the Jammu and Kashmir Government and traders into confidence before taking any decision on cross-LoC trade as NIA has recommended to the Union Home Ministry for stopping the trade.
Making a special mention of the surgical strikes across the LoC last year, Shah said they projected the country as one with firm resolve in the global area, which can take any decision for its security.
To a question on the NIA blaming cross-border trade for terrorism, Shah said that the BJP had no relevance as it concerned the security agencies, the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
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