Srinagar–Muzaffarabad Bus

The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus is a passenger bus service connecting Srinagar, the capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir (also Indian-administered Kashmir) with Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir across the Line of Control (LoC)] cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1731919.stm|title=India-Pakistan buses close down|last=Sen|first=Ayanjit|date=28 December 2001|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-04-21]

Finalisation of bus link

The proposal was placed under official consideration by both countries in 2003 and was supported by the on-going ceasefire and peace talks between militants and Indian forces as well as Kashmiri people who wanted to visit relatives separated since the 1947–48 war that divided the region. The Pakistani government under President Pervez Musharaff began extensive talks with the administration of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which were continued by the administration of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who succeeded Vajpayee in 2004.cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17] The official agreement was promulgated on February 16, 2005, when then-Indian Minister of External Affairs K. Natwar Singh visited the then-Pakistani President Pervez Musharaff in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17] The decision was announced along with agreements on starting a new bus service connecting the Pakistani city of Lahore and the Indian city of Amritsar, establishing the Thar Express train service and opening respective consulates in the cities of Karachi, Pakistan, and Mumbai, India.cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17]

The Indian official position viewed the bus service as a "humanitarian measure without prejudice" and not affecting the rival policies and stands of the two governments on the Kashmir conflict.cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17] To make the bus safe and fully operational, the LoC would be demined if and where necessary and other security arrangements would be made as well.cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17] Both governments announced that the bus service could be used by Indian and Pakistani citizens wishing to travel anywhere in Indian Kashmir and Pakistani Kashmir, including the Northern Areas of Pakistan, which are part of India's claim on Kashmir and pre-1947 Kashmir.cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17]

Bus service details

The bus runs a distance of 170 kilometres (110 mi).cite web |title=PM flags off Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service on April 7 |url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2005/03/12/1203pakbus.html |publisher=Press Trust of India, Indiainfo.com |date=2005-03-12 |accessdate=2008-06-17] The bus service was officially launched on April 7, 2005 and was flagged-off by the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.cite web |title=PM flags off Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service on April 7 |url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2005/03/12/1203pakbus.html |publisher=Press Trust of India, Indiainfo.com |date=2005-03-12 |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17] In India, all citizens would have to apply at the Regional Passport Office in Srinagar, which was the designated authority to evaluate applications, verify identities and issue entry permits.cite web |title=India, Pakistan seal deal on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021706050100.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2005-02-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17] The Indian government has proposed improving travel permit procedures, increasing the frequency of the bus service to weekly instead of a fortnight,cite web |title=Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service to be weekly |url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/04/25/0804251523_rs-indopak.html |publisher=Press Trust of India, Indiainfo.com |date=2005-04-25 |accessdate=2008-06-17] and starting bus services connecting Kargil, India, with Skardu, Pakistan, and Jammu, India, with Sialkot, Pakistan.cite web |title=Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service to be weekly |url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/04/25/0804251523_rs-indopak.html |publisher=Press Trust of India, Indiainfo.com |date=2005-04-25 |accessdate=2008-06-17]

References