SRINAGAR : Two residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) arrived here while six Kashmiris crossed over to other side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the first Karvan-e-Aman bus of 2017 to meet their relatives, separated in 1947 due to partition.
As many as 14 returnees also crossed side at the Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector today, official sources said.
They said two PoK residents, including a woman, arrived at Kaman post after crossing the Aman Setu, peace bridge on foot this afternoon.
Three Kashmiri residents, who had gone to PoK, also returned in the bus after completing stay across the border. They included a woman a child, they added. The number of PoK residents goes down during winter and increases during summer.
Sources said six Kashmiri residents crossed over to other side of the LoC to meet their relatives there. However, 11 PoK residents, who had come here in previous buses also returned to their homes.
They included three women and two children. The bus service continued its run despite unrest in the Kashmir last year and tension on the LoC due to ceasefire violation.
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, travel permit is issued to citizens from both sides of the LoC only after their names are cleared by intelligence agencies from India and Pakistan. (AGENCIES)
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