Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 11: Pakistan army again resorted to mortar shelling and firing at three places on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district while cross-LoC bus service remained suspended on Poonch-Rawlakote route remained suspended for 10th consecutive week today due to ceasefire violations from across the LoC.
Sources said Pakistan army opened firing, followed by mortar shelling, at Shahpur, Kirni and Kasba forward villages on the LoC in Poonch district at 12.30 pm today. The Indian troops retaliated strongly and gave befitting response to Pakistan, leading to heavy exchanges.
However, there were no casualties or damages on the Indian side. Pakistan was reported to have suffered extensive damages in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops.
Meanwhile, weekly cross-LoC bus service along the Poonch-Rawlakote road has completed two months of suspension as India and Pakistan failed to reach a consensus for resumption of the service aimed at facilitating meeting of the divided families, sources said.
The bus service was suspended on July 10 in the aftermath of the intense shelling by Pakistani troops and has failed to resume in view of the frequent ceasefire violations from across the LoC.
“The cross-LoC bus, named as ‘Paigam-e-Amun’ (message of peace), was scheduled to ply today as per its weekly calendar but was again suspended owing to lack of communication between the two sides,” sources said.
They said there was also no chance of resumption of trade, which has also remained suspended since July 11, along the route from tomorrow.
The chance of resumption of the bus service brightened on August 28 after civilian authorities from both sides decided to meet at Chakan-da-Bagh Trade Facilitation Centre along the LoC in Poonch district before resuming the service.
The meeting, however, failed to take place as officials from across the border did not turn up for the meeting apparently due to fresh skirmishes along the LoC.
Meanwhile, weekly-peace bus ‘Karvan-e-Aman’, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), left here this morning to cross over to the other side of the Line of Control (LoC), official sources said.
Last week, the bus service was suspended in view of Eid-ul-Azha.
“The weekly bus left Bemina in Srinagar this morning for Kaman post to cross over to other side of the LoC despite heavy rain”, sources said. They said 29 passengers, including 13 woman and four children, are travelling in the bus.
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