New Delhi
3 May 2006
India and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to launch the Poonch-
Rawalakot bus service from June 19. The joint statement issued after two days of talks
said the bus will operate on a fortnightly basis.
Both sides also agreed to start the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad truck service in the first half of
July besides agreeing to expedite the operationalisation of meeting points along the
Line of Control (LoC) so that the divided families can meet.
The decisions were arrived at in the technical level talks on enhancing interaction and
cooperation across the LoC as mandated by the foreign secretaries on January 18 this
year and in pursuance of the Joint Statement of 18 April 2005.
The Indian delegation was headed by Joint Secretary (PAI) Dilip Sinha in the Ministry of
External Affairs and the Pakistan delegation was led by Mr Syed Ibne Abbas, director
general in the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere. Both sides reviewed the operation of the
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and of the five crossing points. Both sides agreed to
expedite clearances of applications," read the joint statement.
The two sides exchanged indicative lists of goods for trade. It was agreed that the
delegations from Chambers of Commerce from either side of the LoC will undertake
visits at the earliest to discuss various aspects of the trade.
The procedures, documentation and modalities for the new bus service will be the same
as for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. The two sides also discussed modalities
for operationalising the meeting points along the LOC as agreed upon earlier.
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