Despite tension in Kashmir, Karvan-e-Aman service continues

Srinagar/April,8: Despite high tension due to violence that left
eight civilians dead and over 150, including 100 security force
personnel, injured during massive clashes yesterday, the Karvan-e-Aman
bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, left for Kaman Post
this morning.
“Yes the bus left here early this morning for Kaman post, the last
Indian military post, on this side of LoC,” official sources said.
He said the bus has since reached Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) Uri.
However, he said the exact number of passengers travelling to PoK
will be known later in the afternoon.
The bus service, major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between
Indian and Pakistan after 1999 Kargil War, continued despite unrest in
Kashmir last year and tension on the LoC due to ceasefire violation
and the surgical strike in the PoK.
The cross-LoC bus service, started on April 7, 2005 despite
opposition by militant organisations, has helped thousands of
families, divided in 1947 due to Partition, to meet each other after
India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of state subjects from both
sides on travel permits instead of international passport.
However, travel permit is issued to citizens from both sides of the
LoC only after their names are cleared by intelligence agencies from
India and Pakistan.