With tensions rising between India and Pakistan on the Line of Control, Pakistan has decided to suspend the bus service between Poonch and Rawalakot, without giving an official reason. Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asfaq Pervez Kayani has also reportedly ordered the cancellation of leaves of all army personnel.
The bus service was suspended after authorities in PoK did not respond to call from their Indian counterparts.
The weekly service was suspended on August 19 after authorities in PoK did not respond to a call from their Indian counterparts to let a bus get across the LoC.
Following New Delhi's tough stand on the issue of mutilation of a soldier by Pakistani troops, Islamabad had on January 11 suspended the bus service between Rawalakot and Poonch indefinitely.
Here's a recap of moments captured in India in the past 24 hours.
Indian traders claim that they were sending more goods, but in return Pakistan traders were sending fewer goods, perhaps prompting Pakistani authorities to delaying tactics in order to retain balance of trade across this particular border trade point.
Keen to take the peace process with Pakistan forward, India is expected to press for launch of more bus services across the Line of Control. India will also demand the early operationalisation of the truck service when the two sides resume the composite dialogue in Islamabad on Tuesday. The Foreign Secretaries will meet on Tuesday to set the agenda for talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee & his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
"With a view to further consolidate the confidence building initiatives already taken, it has been planned to liberalise the entry permit system for cross-LoC travel by bringing in features like triple entry permits valid for one year and completion of the verification process within six weeks," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said.
They will cross from Chakan-da-Bagh on the LoC.
India on Tuesday summoned Pakistan Acting High Commissioner Mansoor Ahmad in connection with the suspension of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot-Poonch bus services by Pakistan, which has demanded release of its national arrested for smuggling narcotics worth Rs 100 crore across the LoC.
While 26 trucks crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, 13 from there reached the Indian side.
