SRINAGAR: Despite tense situation on the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir, where 10 militants and three soldiers were killed during the past 10 days, the Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) left here this morning to cross over to the other side of LoC.
The peace bus left for Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of LoC in Uri sector from Srinagar, where curfew restrictions continued for the second day today, official sources said.
Four foreign infiltrators and three soldiers were killed in an encounter at Naugam sector near LoC in north Kashmir district of Kupwara on May 21, while six militants were gunned down in Uri on May 27.
Restrictions remained imposed in the downtown and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) since yesterday, following strike called by the separatists in protest against the killing of two militants, including Sabzar Bhat, successor of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani.
Sources said the bus has since reached the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) and the exact number of passengers travelling would be known later in the day.
Similarly, information about the guests travelling from PoK will also be known in the afternoon, they added. The weekly bus was suspended twice during this month. 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 I, following a communication from PoK authorities regarding suspension of service on account of the International Workers’ Day.
The bus service, a major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between India and Pakistan after the 1999 Kargil war, continued despite unrest in Kashmir in 2016 and tension on the LoC, due to ceasefire violation and subsequent surgical strike by the 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. Only state subjects from both sides can avail the cross-LoC facility. (agencies)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
