SRINAGAR : The Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), remained suspended on Monday since March 4, official sources said.
However, the POK residents here and Kashmiris on other side of the Line of Control (LoC) who were stranded after the suspension of the bus, were allowed to cross the sides on April 21 and 29, respectively.
The cross-LoC bus, introduced as one of the major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) by Pakistan and India in 2005, remained suspended today since March four after it was reported that some repair work of Aman Setu peace bridge at Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC, was going on. However, the normal cross-LoC bus was not restored.
Three PoK residents, who were stranded here after the suspension of the bus returned to their homes on April 29 when both sides agreed to facilitate their travel. Earlier, two Kashmiris returned to their homes from PoK on April 21 evening.
The bus, one of the major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) taken by India and Pakistan, has helped thousands of families, divided since 1947 due to partition to meet each other. It was also decided to allow residents from both sides to travel on “Travel Permits” instead of International passports.
Cross-LoC trade also remained suspended since March 4. However, later trade was also suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after intelligence reports that trade was being used by anti-national elements for violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
(AGENCIES)
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