Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 2: Cross-LoC bus service and trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route remained suspended for almost three months now due to frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan army on the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
“The cross-LoC bus, which used to move every Monday between Poonch and Rawlakote (PoK) and trade between two parts of divided State, was suspended on July 10 after heavy shelling by Pakistani troops at various places on the LoC including Chakan-Da-Bagh from where the buses and trucks carrying goods cross over to Rawlakote in PoK from Poonch,” sources said.
There seems to be no chances of early resumption of cross-LoC bus and trade as there has been no let up in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops on the LoC.
Sources said authorities didn’t want to take any chances of sending civilians from this side to PoK as Chakan-Da-Bagh also falls within Pakistan’s shelling and firing range.
However, cross-LoC bus and trade continued uninterrupted on Uri-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir valley.
It may be mentioned here that National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recommended to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for suspension of cross-LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir on the ground that it was being misused by certain persons to fund terrorism and unrest in the Valley.
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