Srinagar, July 16 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the people of the Kashmir valley and Poonch-Rajouri districts are keenly looking forward to the outcome of the July 18 Indo-Pak technical talks on cross Line of Control (LoC) trade through Srinagar-Muzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote Roads.

The discussions between the two sides will focus on effective implementation of LoC-related CBMs to promote greater interaction between the Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC including increasing the frequency of trance-border bus services and launching truck service on Srinagar-Muzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads. As several such past exercises have failed to yield any positive results, the people are keeping their fingers crossed.

Since the re-opening of the road in April 2005, with the launch of the first bus, the demand of the people from both sides of the LoC for increasing the frequency of the bus service and allowing free movement of people and goods on the road intensified, but there was no progress on this count. The people now expect that July 18 talks would make some headway in this regard.

Revival of the hassle-free movement of people and goods on Srinagar-Muzafarabad road would not only promote greater cultural and economic interaction between the two parts of Kashmir, but would also restore Kashmir’s age-old connection with the rest of the world through the road, which remains transportable through out year. The road was constructed in 1887 AD and is also known as the Jehlum Valley Road.