Peace Bus Reunites Kashmir After Quake
Date: 16-Dec-05
Country: INDIA
"The bus has resumed its service from Srinagar to Kaman post with seven passengers on board," S.L. Srinramlu, a passport officer in the Indian state of Jammu and kashmir, told Reuters.
The 170-km (105-mile) highway between the capitals of Indian and Pakistani Kashmir was reopened in April, connecting the two sides for the first time in almost 60 years.
But the South Asia quake, which killed almost 75,000 people, blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and damaged the Aman Setu, or Peace Bridge. Kaman post is the last point on the Indian side.
Indian officials said 15 passengers were cleared to travel but only seven, including five stranded passengers of Pakistani Kashmir, boarded the bus on Thursday.
At least 10 passengers from Indian Kashmir stranded in Pakistani Kashmir since the quake were expected to return home.
"It is not clear how the passengers from (the) other side would travel to the Peace Bridge, as the road on the other side is still in a bad condition," an Indian official said.
The April revival of the bus run linking families divided for decades was one of the most tangible signs of progress in a painstakingly slow but steady peace process between India and Pakistan, both of whom claim Kashmir in full but rule it in part.
After the quake, they opened five border points to allow relief supplies and survivors to cross. India and Pakistan came close to their third war over Kashmir in 2002.
