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Journalism of Courage
In a step that would further strengthen the Indo-Pak peace process, Islamabad today agreed to hold technical level talks for starting a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in PoK. The proposal was first made by India in October last year.
According to South Block officials, Pakistan has ‘‘agreed in principle’’ to hold technical level talks on starting the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service as well as the rail service between Khokhrapar in Rajasthan and Munabao in Sindh.
However, the officials said, Pakistan will be suggesting fresh dates for the talks. New Delhi had earlier proposed January 12 and January 19 for holding technical-level deliberations.
Further, Pakistan has also agreed to raise the strength of the respective high commissions from 55 to 75 and remove restrictions on the movement of mission officials. ‘‘We have been informed that the two confidence-building measures of increasing the number of mission staff from 55 to 75 as well as removal of restrictions on movement of mission officials are acceptable (to Pakistan). This will now be implemented,’’ an MEA spokesperson said.
This apart, the Delhi Transport Corporation and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation today signed a memorandum in Islamabad to extend the existing protocol for the Delhi-Lahore bus service by five years. The existing protocol was valid till February 2004. The two sides also agreed to run additional buses in future.
These proposals were made by New Delhi as part of its effort to take Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s peace initiative forward. Both sides had slashed their respective mission strengths of 110 by half following the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament.
The proposals were in continuation of India’s step-by-step process to normalise links with Pakistan and promote people-to-people contact. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link formed part of the 12 proposals mooted by India on October 22, which included restoration of cricketing and other sports ties between the two countries.
Islamabad had, in its response to this specific proposal, said it was ready for the bus service provided United Nations officials man check points and laid the condition that passengers should carry with them UN-authorised travel documents. This was, however, rejected by India.
