Political bandwagon to escort LoC buses

Sources said it would take three to four days for the documents of the leaders to be cleared for travel. ‘‘If cleared, I will try to elicit opinion from the Pakistan leaders as to how the Kashmir issue can be settled,’’ said Omar Abdullah. ‘‘I will like to hear and tell them how we could improve relations and carry forward the peace process. At the same time, I would like to see more improvement in people-to-people contact.’’ The NC president had plans for the proposed service too. ‘‘The frequency of the bus should be improved and travel papers, which are very cumbersome to fill, should be made simpler.’’

The inclusion of mainstream politicians on the third bus, however, will not go well with the separatist leadership. ‘‘It is a serious climbdown by the Pakistani establishment. Earlier, they were of the opinion that people who ruled Kashmir were stooges of New Delhi and now if they hold receptions for them, you can make out on this policy shift on Kashmir,’’ said a second-rung separatist leader.

Abdullah stressed that if Pakistan did not raise objections on their travel, it meant they too are ‘‘recognizing the elected government in J-K’’. ‘‘The importance they are giving to the mainstream leaders shows they want leaders like me, Mehbooba and others to contribute towards the peace process,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Ghani Lone today welcomed the bus service, calling it the first step towards complete psychological integration of the two sides of Kashmir. Lone, however, cautioned PM Manmohan Singh against converting the bus service into a ‘‘farce’’. ‘‘The bus service is not a product of visionary statesmanship of the Indian and Pakistani leadership but a product of a heroic and defiant struggle of the people of Kashmir…It is a sacrificial product, not a ceremonial product. Converting it into a theatre…is tantamount to humiliating the sacrifices,’’ he said.

Lone said the right to flag off the bus or board it lay with the heirs of the martyrs. ‘‘Please do not make it impotent by pandering to…(a) section of leadership keen to thrive on the sacrifices in which they have no role.”