Early Times Report
BARAMULLA, July 22: As part of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan, 56 residents of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) arrived here today to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their relatives, separated during partition in 1947 while only four Kashmiris crossed over to other side of the Line of Control (LoC).
Official sources said 16 returnees also crossed sides at Kaman Post in Uri of Baramulla District in North Kashmir, the last military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector.
He said 56 PoK residents, including 16 women and 22 children, arrived at Kaman post after crossing Aman Setu, Peace Bridge, on LoC to meet their relatives.
The guests will celebrate the Eid festival here in Kashmir before leaving for their respective homes in PoK.
Sources said nine Kashmiris, including three women, who had crossed over to PoK also returned their homes after completing their stay there.
Sources, however, said that four kashmiris crossed over to other side of the LoC to celebrate Eid with their relatives there. Seven PoK residents, including two women and three children, who had arrived here in previous buses also returned their homes after completing their stay in Kashmir.
The bus service has helped unite numerous families of both sides of the divide the sources said adding, the cross-LoC trade has generated vibrant economic activity benefitting Kashmir as a whole.
Over the years the bus and trade have emerged as the focal CBM. He said KAS and KTP were established by Army to provide rest and other facilities to the cross-LoC guests.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Karvan-e- Aman bus service, was started on April 7, 2005, by Mufti government which has helped thousands of divided families to meet each other after their separation in 1947. |
