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PM undeterred, to flag off bus today
Rajeev Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 6
Undeterred by the militant attack on Srinagar’s Tourist Reception Centre today where passengers of the inaugural Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service were reportedly lodged, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will flag off the first bus tomorrow in Srinagar as scheduled.

The Government reviewed the security arrangements for the bus service. The Prime Minister himself undertook a thorough review of the security arrangements for the bus service and was briefed extensively by National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and top officials.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil also reviewed the security arrangements with senior officials of the Home Ministry and Intelligence Bureau (IB) at a 30-minute meeting and kept himself in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir government. The security agencies are understood to have assured the government that fool-proof security arrangements were being made not only for tomorrow’s launch and the safety of the VVIPs but also the bus all along the route within the jurisdiction of the Government of India.

Prime Minister’s Media Advisor Sanjay Baru told this correspondent that the Prime Minister viewed today’s “unfortunate” attack as “a desperate act of desperate people”. Dr Baru also said the Prime Minister’s commitment to continue the peace process with Pakistan was unflinching.

The UPA government is also convinced about the sincerity of the Pakistan government in making the LoC bus service a success. This is despite the fact that while from the Indian side the Prime Minister was going to flag off the inaugural bus, from the Pakistani side no such gesture was forthcoming. Pakistani daily “The News” today reported that the Foreign Office in Islamabad had rejected an invitation of the AJK government that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz should inaugurate the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. The newspaper also reported that at one stage it was considered that if not the Prime Minister, at least Minister for Kashmir Affairs Faisal Saleh Hayat should represent the Pakistan government to see passengers off to Srinagar.

Eyebrows are also being raised in some circles here over different voices emanating from different quarters in Pakistan. A peculiar statement came from Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman wherein he said any attack from terrorists on the Kashmir bus was unwarranted and uncalled for because the persons travelling on the bus would be Kashmiris.

Four militant organizations in a joint statement on March 29 issued a threat to the 40 passengers asking them to cancel their visit. A joint statement by Al-Nasreen, Al-Arifeen, Farzandan-e-Milat and the Save Kashmir Movement which were faxed to Srinagar-based journalists said that they were opposed to the bus as it would weaken the so-called jehad being fought in Kashmir.

The militant outfits described the bus as a “coffin” and asked the people of Kashmir to avoid travel on it. Moreover, they do not want the Kashmiri youth who had crossed over to PoK since 1990 to come back and join the mainstream. According to reports available with the Government of India, majority of these youth are doing petty jobs and are getting an allowance of Rs.750 per month. They were lured on the promise that their families will be monetarily helped during their absence from J&K. Al Nasreen and Al Arifeen are a faction of the Lashkar-e-Toiba while Farzandan-e-Milat is another name of Hizbul Mujahideen. Save Kashmir Movement is the cover name of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba and has claimed responsibility for many militant attacks.

Bus to run on schedule: Pak

Islamabad, April 6
Strongly condemning the militant attack today on a building in Srinagar housing passengers of the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus, Pakistan said the bus would ply tomorrow as scheduled and arrangements have been made to receive passengers coming from across the LoC.

“We have been told by the Indian Government that the bus will be run as scheduled. We appreciate this decision. As far as we are concerned all arrangements are in place and the bus from Muzaffarabad would approach Chakoti near the LoC at 1300 hrs Pakistan time tomorrow,” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said here. — PTI

Bus service step towards lasting peace: UK

Islamabad, April 6
Describing the Srinagar- Muzaffarabad bus service commencing tomorrow as a step towards "lasting peace" in the region, Britain today said reuniting divided Kashmiri families on both sides of the LoC signalled a "new phase" in Indo-Pak ties.

"The agreement to run the bus reflected the flexibility and vision of the leaders of both countries," British High Commissioner to Pakistan Mark L Grant said in a statement here.

The bus promises to make a real difference in the lives of many Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC, Grant said adding "Kashmiri families and friends, divided for so long, will be able to meet again, some for the first time in decades." The bus service "is not the end of the road, but it is without doubt a step on the path to lasting peace and reconciliation and sends a clear signal to all friends of India and Pakistan of a new phase in their relationship."

"This region has come so far in the past three years. From the brink of conflict, we have now entered a time of genuine hope. As a close friend of both countries, the UK welcomes the progress being made through the ongoing dialogue between Pakistan and India," he said.

"We firmly believe a durable solution to all outstanding issues between the two countries, including Kashmir, can only be achieved through dialogue," the High Commissioner said. — PTI