SRINAGAR, Mar 20:
Despite tension on the Line of Control (LoC) due to unprovoked shelling by Pakistan, as many as 10 guests from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) arrived here, while 14 Kashmiris crossed over to the other side in the weekly Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.
Six returnees also crossed sides at the Kaman Post in Uri sector on Monday. According to official sources on Tuesday, 10 residents of PoK, including three women and as many children, arrived at Kaman Post after crossing the Aman Setu or peace bridge on foot, to meet their relatives, separated in 1947 due to partition.
Four Kashmiris, including two women, who had gone to PoK in previous buses, also returned after completing their stay there. They said 14 Kashmiris, including three women and a child, crossed over to the other side of LoC in the weekly bus.
”Two PoK residents, who had arrived in previous buses to meet their relatives, returned to their homes after completing their stay here,” they added. Despite tension on the borders due to cross-border shelling, the bus service continued.
On Sunday, five members of a family were killed and two minor girls, besides five soldiers were injured in Pakistan shelling at Balakote sector of Mendhar.
The inter cross-LoC bus service was one of the major Confidence Building Measures (CBM) taken by India and Pakistan after both the countries agreed for a ceasefire on LoC and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir in 2003.
The peace bus service has been operating, despite repeated attempts being made by the militants to sneak into this side from PoK before the higher reaches close due to snowfall for winter months. The bus has since helped thousands of divided families to meet each other.
However, only State subjects from both the sides, are eligible to travel in the bus after their names are cleared by the intelligence agencies from both sides. (UNI)
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