SRINAGAR: The weekly Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), continue to remain suspended since March 4 due to tense situation after Pulwama fidayeen attack in February this year in which over 44 CRPF personnel were martyred and scores injured.
Meanwhile, the Cross- Line of Control (LoC) trade also remained suspended on the directions by the Union Home Ministry after reports that it (trade) was being used for terror funding in the valley. A number of traders associated with cross-LoC were questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for their alleged involvement in the terror funding.
The Aman bus was suspended on March 4 after PoK authorities informed that Aman Setu bridge was being repaired on their side. However, the bus services has not resumed since then though no reason was given. Residents of both sides who got held up after the suspension of the bus returned to their homes after special arrangement was made in the third week of March.
The cross LoC bus service was introduced on April 7, 2005 to help families divided due to partition in 1947, to meet each other after India and Pakistan decided to allow travel of state subjects from both sides of the LoC on “Travel Permits” instead of International Passport.
Thousands of divided families have benefitted from the one of the major Confidence Building Measures (CBM) taken by both the neighbours despite opposition by the militant groups. Barring chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and chief of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah travelled in the bus to PoK and Pakistan.
(agencies)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
