Cross-LoC bus service resumes after two weeks

90 members of divided families from Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) crossed between the two sides on weekly trans-border bus in Poonch district.

Among those who travelled on LoC Poonch-Rawalakote bus via Chakan-Da-Bagh border point, 45 crossed over to PoK from J-K, while rest came to J-K from PoK, officials said.

LoC bus service and trade came to a halt on June 14 in view of the tension due to the heavy LoC firing, shelling and ceasefire violations incidents since June 11, in which 2 Indian jawans were killed and 4 others were injured.

From J-K side, 4 of the travellers were freshers while remaining 40 were POK returnees, officials said, adding that from PoK side, 40 were freshers and 5 were J-K returnees, who returned after staying with their kin in PoK.

Officials of J&K and PoK monitored the crossover operation.

The Poonch-Rawlakote 'Carvan-e-Aman' bus service has also been suspended for past two weeks.

The trading point and the bus services were started to facilitate easy trade and travel among divided families of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and considered to be major confidence building exercise between India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, top officials of the Pakistan Rangers and Border Security Force were holding talks to sort out a host of border-related issues including instances of ceasefire violation along the Indo-Pak frontier.