India, Pak to discuss LoC trade, travel issues in Islamabad as part of CBM agenda

Islamabad, July 18 (ANI): Senior officials from Pakistan and India will meet this week to discuss confidence building measures in a bid to remove hurdles in travel and trade across the Line of Control (LoC).

A foreign ministry spokesperson said the meeting of the Pakistan-India Working Group on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), regarding the longstanding Kashmir dispute, will be held in Islamabad on July 19, reports The Express Tribune.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General (South Asia) Zehra Akbari will head the Pakistani delegation, while Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (PAI) YK Sinha will lead the Indian side, the spokesman said.

He added that the joint working group was meeting in pursuance of decisions taken during the recently held foreign secretary level talks in New Delhi on peace and security.

According to sources, Pakistan will push for simplifying the travel procedures for people living on both sides of the LoC through bus services. At present, two buses carry people between the LoC: Muzaffarabad-Srinagar and Rawalakot-Poonch.

However, Kashmiris intending to travel across the divided territory face a daunting task to receive a travel permit.

The Muzaffarabad- Srinagar bus service was launched in April 2005 as part of efforts by the two neighbours to create favourable conditions for a resolution of the decades-old Kashmir issue.

Another bus service, between Poonch and Rawalakot, was launched in June 2006. (ANI)