14 persons had to return to their homes in Pakistani side of Kashmir, who will now be sent back by next Monday. PHOTO: AFP
The weekly trans-LoC bus service called the ‘Peace Bus’ between Poonch on the Indian side and Rawalakot on the Pakistan side was suspended on Monday, said Tanvir Ahmed Choudhary, custodian Chakan Da Bagh Trade Facilitation Centre.
Pakistan-India bus, trade resume as tensions ebb
Choudhary said at least 14 people had to return to their homes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. "Now, they can hopefully be sent back next Monday,” he added. However, he also maintained that no resident of Indian-held Kashmir was affected by the interruption.
“The 14 Pakistanis will have to stay in the state for another one week till peace returns on the LoC. Going by the volatile situation, chances of trans-LoC trade via Chakan Da Bagh are also grim,” the official added.
The bus service from Poonch to Rawalakot began in 2005 to enable members of divided families in the region to meet each other. The cross-border trade between the two parts of divided Kashmir has always been encouraged as a means to improve strained relations between Islamabad and New Delhi. The trade takes place four days a week, from Tuesday to Friday.
This story originally appeared on the Hindustan Times.
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