SRINAGAR, SEP 12 : Amid the uncertainty and chaos looming large in Kashmir, Caravan-e-Aman bus service and cross LoC trade in frontier district of Poonch continues to remain suspended since March 4 and April 19, this year respectively.
Reports have informed that since March 4 this year, more than a month after Pulwama suicide attack happened followed by a skirmishes between India and Pakistan, the Carvaan-e- Aman bus service which was started post 2002 in JK was suspended. Furthermore, the cross LoC trade in the frontier district of Poonch also remains in limbo with no trade activity taking place between the two sides since April 9, this year.
Pakistani authorities had cited construction of AmanSeethu- a bridge that connects the fragments parts of Valley with each other- as one of the reason for the suspension of the bus service that was considered as one of the important Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between the two countries.
The suspension of the bus service has been putting the people living on both the sides of the divide in dire straits, leaving them with no option but to pray for a thaw between the two countries.
Meanwhile, there has so far been no word from the JK administration over whether it intends to restore the bus service and cross LOC trade.
Pertinent to mention that the Indo Pak relations have been reeling under severe tensions since February 14 when a suicide bomber from a Pakistan based militant organisation rammed his explosive laden vehicle into an army convoy killing 40 para military personnel. Soon after the incident, India carried out an anti-militancy operation namely operation Balakot, claiming to have destroyed militant launch pads. (PTK)
