Pakistan, India exchange Lists of Kashmir bus passengers
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

MUZAFFARABAD: Officials on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir met for the first time in 49 years on Tuesday to exchange lists of intending passengers for the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service staring on April 7.

A "Flag Meeting" was held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir territory just adjacent to the Chakothi bridge, which has never been crossed by anybody since 1956 for such a meeting. Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad Liaquat Hussain headed the AJK delegation while Col Ghulab Singh Rawat headed the team from held Kashmir at the meeting.

"It is surprising to note that the Indian delegation was led by a military officer whereas in the morning we were conveyed that a civilian will cross over the bridge for the flag meeting," Chief Secretary AJK Kashif Murtaza later told a media team from Islamabad, which was taken to the LoC to witness this historic occasion.

"I will not comment but you an draw your own conclusion that an army officer from the Indian side was sent to attend the flag meeting with a civilian official from the AJK," Murtaza said.

Responding to a question, he said it was not an occasion to lodge protest with the Indian authorities. Other members of the Indian delegation were Lt Col Sanjay and Maj Sabastian while Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad was assisted by Lt Col Chiragh Haider, Maj Naeem and Maj Sher at the talks.

Twice a Month

The chief secretary said to start with, 30 passengers each from both sides would travel twice a month between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar. "Both sides will issue travel permits to 30 passengers out of a list of 45 intending passengers," he said. Srinagar is about 122 kilometres from LoC whereas Uri is the first city, about 10 kilometres from the LoC while Baramula lies at a distance of 36 kilometres.

The senior AJK official said the AJK prime minister would inaugurate the bus service on April 7 at the bus terminal (check point), which is being built by the AJK government at an estimated cost of Rs 16 million about one kilometre from LoC.

He said the remaining arrangements including rehabilitation of 11 kilometres road from Chinari up to 210-feet long Chakothi bridge is being carried out by Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and repair of 50 kilometres road from Muzaffarabad to Chinari by the Works Department, which would be completed within the next 10 days.

An official present on the occasion said the Indian authorities had laid the 210-foot-long Chakothi Bridge called as "Command bridge" in technical terms. The bridge, which divides Azad and held Kashmirs, was completed on Sunday.

The Voyage

The AJK chief secretary informed newsmen that buses on either side would come up to the bridge and passengers would walk down the bridge. Trolleys and porters will help the passengers carry their luggage.

He said it would take 45 to 60 minutes for the passengers in money exchange, checking of documents, etc. The passengers would then leave for Muzzafarabad. Replying to a question, he said security gates are being installed for scanning of passengers and their luggage. "They will not face the trouble of manual checking," he said.

Responding to another question, the official said the period of stay of passengers would be mentioned on the permit. "We would be liberal in issuing permits to passengers coming from that side," he said.

He said since Pakistani and Indian currencies could not be exchanged, the passengers would be required to keep US dollars. "No immigration and customs officials would be deputed on either side of the border," he said in categorical terms. He said passengers would be provided full security and medical facilities on the way up to Muzaffarabad.●