Historic Kashmir bus to roll out under heavy guard

ISLAMABAD, Sunday (AFP) - Watertight security will surround the launch of the first buses for nearly six decades between the Indian and Pakistani zones of divided Kashmir this week, following threats of violence by Islamic militants.

The landmark service, starting on April 7, is seen as a major boost to peace moves between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours, whose competing claims to the breathtaking Himalayan region sparked two of their three wars.

Kashmiris were also looking forward to being reunited with family members when the buses start running between Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian zone, and its Pakistani counterpart Muzaffarabad.

But guerilla groups responsible for a bloody 15-year insurgency against Indian rule in Kashmir have threatened to turn the so-called friendship buses into coffins.