BBC: Landmark Kashmir bus link agreed

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India and Pakistan have agreed to launch a landmark bus service across the ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between the nuclear rivals. (...)

Natwar Singh's visit is the first bilateral trip to Pakistan by an Indian foreign minister in 15 years. (...)

The route would allow travel for thousands of divided families living on either side of the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between the two countries. (...)

The two sides also say they are planning another bus service between the Pakistani city of Lahore and the Indian city of Amritsar and a rail link between the provinces of Sindh and Rajasthan.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4268121.stm

[UL_Approved]

1. Very interesting, but it will attract terrorist attacks like crazy

This is a well-intended idea, but I suspect that extremists will seize the opportunity to go after it.

This bit of fence-mending is getting around some pretty serious hostility. This seems to be a little like the India-China strategic talks about nuclear arms. That happened earlier this year, and was another historic first. I guess that the "behave or we will 'liberate' you" thing has the world pretty scared.

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2. India agrees "to look" at Pakistan pipeline project

16 Feb 2005 11:20:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

ISLAMADAD, Feb 16 (Reuters) - India said on Wednesday it was willing to consider joining a project for pipeline across Pakistan to deliver gas from Iran and Turkmenistan.

Foreign Minister Natwar Singh made the announcement at a news conference following meetings with the Pakistani leadership in Islamabad aimed at pushing forward a year-old peace process between the two sides.

"We also have agreed to look at a pipeline through Pakistan, subject to the satisfaction of our concerns related to security and assured supplies," Singh said. The project has been dubbed "a pipeline for peace".

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP49025.htm

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3. Kashmiris joyful over India-Pakistan bus accord

16 Feb 2005 15:00:11 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Zulfiqar Ali and Sheikh Mushtaq

MUZAFFARABAD/SRINAGAR, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Kashmiris on both sides of a ceasefire line were ecstatic on Wednesday after arch-rivals Pakistan and India finally agreed to start a bus service between the divided Himalayan territory.

"It is a dream come true," said Deen Mohammad, an university student in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir. "The bus will reunite thousands of families. Something great is happening to blood-soaked Kashmir after a pretty long time."

But as Pakistan's Khurhseed Mehmood Kasuri met India's Natwar Singh on Wednesday, separatist insurgents threw a grenade at a bus stand in Kishtwar, a militancy-hit town, 267 km (166 miles) south of Srinagar, killing one civilian and wounding six others. (...)

The two countries have agreed to an entry permit system and application forms will be available in Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, a procedure quickly criticised by Indian nationalists: "This (Kashmir bus service) is a hasty step. This agreement will give rise to secessionist forces," Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, spokesman of the Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party said in New Delhi.

More:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL64558.htm