Pakistan suspends cross-LoC bus service between J&K and PoK
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Jan 12, IRNA -- In yet another setback to cross-LoC travel, Pakistan on Friday decided to suspend 'Paigam-e-Aman' bus service between Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Jammu and Kashmir.
There would be no bus service on Monday.
'Pakistan has suspended the cross-LoC bus service between Chakan-Da-Bagh (J and K) and Rawalakote (PoK) for the time being,' pti reported quoting Trade Facilitation Officer (TFO), Poonch, Abdul Hamid Sheikh as said. 'There would be no cross-LoC bus service on Monday,' the TFO said, adding, 'No time frame was conveyed to us for re-starting the cross-LoC trade and bus service.'
Sheikh said that he contacted Director General, Trade and Travel, PoK for clarifying the situation on LoC trade and travel and he conveyed that there was firing going on and inthis situation, no travel can be carried out till further orders.
The Poonch-Rawalakote 'Carvan-e-Aman' bus service was suspended on June 11, last year and resumed on July 17 after a Brigade commander-level meeting between Pakistan and Indian armies.
With the suspension of 'Karvan-e-Aman' bus service between POK and Jammu and Kashmir, as many as 58 Indians and 65 POK residents are stranded on the two sides of LoC.
As many as 58 Indians are stranded in POK and 65 POK nationals are stranded in Jammu and Kashmir after the suspension of cross-LoC bus service by the Pakistan indefinitely', Poonch district officials said.
Indian nationals and POK residents travelled to each other's side on 15-day permit and some of them had extended the stay of the visit on the two sides.
Pakistan Army had yesterday refused to open the gates forallowing cross-LoC trade in Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. 25 Jammu and Kashmir trucks carrying goods mostly vegetables for traders in PoK were stranded at the checkpoint.
Officials said that a total of 65 trucks were stuck for passage to PoK from Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point since yesterday. Most of these trucks are carrying perishable goods, particularly vegetables.
LoC trade had also come to a halt due to the closure of gates at Chakan-da-Bagh border point in Poonch on June 14, last year following Indo-Pak tension in the wake of heavy firing along the LoC in which two Indian soldiers were killed and four others were injured in incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Truck and bus services were started to facilitate easy trade and travel between J and K and PoK as part of confidence building exercise between the two neighbours.
As many as 71 incidents of border firing have taken place along the LoC and International Border (IB) in 2012. Seven persons including 4 security personnel, 2 civilians and one Pakistani intruder were killed in the incidents.
Officials said that 15 persons, including 12 security force personnel and 3 civilians, were also injured in the incidents.
There were 51 cases of cross-border firing and ceasefire violations in 2011 as compared to 44 cases along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in 2010 and 28 in 2009.
Indian Army had also detected a 500-metre-long tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector on July 28, last year and had subsequently lodged a strong protest with Pakistan on the issue.
Tensions between India and Pakistan over recent killing of soldiers may have erupted but it was business as usual at Uri check post in north Kashmir where trading continued smoothly with consignments of fruits being exchanged by both sides today.
Over 50 trucks carrying grapes, tomatoes and bananas crossed over from Uri's check post into Pakistan occupied Kashmir while the other side sent apples and oranges, official sources said.
From India, consignment of tomatoes, grapes and bananas was sent to Muzafarrabad, whereas from PoK, truck loads of apple, potatoes, onion and kinoo (oranges) was received, the sources said.
Trading was opened in Uri a day after Pakistan Army hadrefused to open the gates for allowing cross-LoC trade in Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch district in Jammu region.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1044735
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