We never failed in showing our readiness to initiate peace process in the region. Way back in 2005, Karvan-e-aman instilled hopes among the people on both sides of LoC in J&K that long period of estrangement will be put an end to and a new beginning in establishing cordial relations between the people on both sides of the dividing line will begin. Six decades of estrangement cannot be cleared in one go; it will take its time. From the day in August 2005 when Srinagar – Muzaffarabad bus journey started, the process had to go through many hiccups. This bus service had to be suspended for various reasons like earthquake and damage to the Aman Setu, inclement weather conditions and fabricated calamities. A couple of times our security men at the crossing line seized narcotics and fake currency from in-coming Pakistani trucks. The stuff lay hidden in secret nooks of the truck but agile security men detected and seized it.
We do not expect sincere and well-intentioned PoK visitors to indulge in clandestine activities like carrying narcotics and fake currency to fuel the engines of militancy in Kashmir. By acts like these, they are not promoting goodwill among the peoples. They force the two Governments to suspend the bus service. On the other hand, traders who carry out their trade relations fairly and honestly concede that they are able to make good profit from trans-border trade conducted under normal regime of customs and duties.
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, now running on weekly basis, can be made on daily basis: more items can be added to the list of transactional goods: Visa/permit regimes can be made easier. Tourist facilities can be improved and full truck body scanning at the crossing point and banking and communication facilities can be improved. All this depends on how much sincere are we in reviving cordial relations with people across the LoC. If this LoC crossing gradually transforms into intentional crossing norms, we can say that a major breakthrough has been achieved in de-freezing Indo-Pak relations over Kashmir.
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