Second trans-Kashmir bus rolls under tight security

SRINAGAR, India, Thursday (AFP) The second running of a historic trans-Kashmir bus service began under tight security early Thursday from Srinagar, capital of Indian Kashmir, despite threats to disrupt it by Islamic militants, police said. A police officer said about 30 passengers had boarded two buses headed for Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, but could not give an exact figure.

Some of the passengers, he said, are returning residents of Muzaffarabad who had travelled to Srinagar when the service was re-launched two weeks ago after a gap of nearly 60 years as part of a peace process between India and Pakistan, who have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir. Ten minutes before the two buses rolled from the high-security Cheshma Shahi area of Srinagar, two dummy buses accompanied by an ambulance and security vehicles headed off to mislead militants who have threatened to target those on board, police said.

"All the passengers were housed (overnight) in a state-owned guest houses for security reasons," the officer said.

A bus was also expected to leave Muzaffarabad Thursday for Srinagar, with passengers from both sides having to cross the Line of Control (LoC), the heavily-militarised de facto border dividing Kashmir btween India and Pakistan, on foot.

As with the first service, which was hailed as highly symbolic of the progress made in the 14-month peace process, passengers will then board the buses on the other side and continue to the respective capitals.

The first buses rolled on April 7 after India and Pakistan agreed to resume the service which was was halted in 1947 when the two nations fought their first war over control of the region just after independence from Britain.