Date with destiny: Kashmir bus set to roll

Date with destiny: Kashmir bus set to roll

Thursday, April 7, 2005 (Srinagar):

The whole world watches as the first bus link between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad rolls across the border today.

The journey takes place in the shadow of terrorist threats to turn it into a coffin on wheels.

But the Centre is adamant that the bus will roll on. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will flag of the bus today despite the security threat.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and other Kashmiri leaders will also be present at the occasion.

Road map

Twenty-four passengers are expected to board the bus today. It's not clear whether any more passengers have pulled out from the journey.

The bus will be flagged off at 11 am (IST) from Srinagar. Then via Baramullah and Uri, it is supposed to stop at Salamabad for lunch.

After this, passengers walk across the Kaman bridge to the other side, and from there they would take the other bus to Muzzafarabad.

On the other side of the Line of Control, the bus will roll out from Muzzafarabad at 11 am (IST).

Then the bus goes to Jacoti, which is about 5 km from the LoC, and then to the Command Bridge. The passengers from Pakistan are supposed to cross over to India first.

Daring attack

In an attempt to terrorise the passengers not to travel on the bus, militants hit the very area where they were being held on Wednesday.

None of the passengers were hurt in the attack and both militants were killed in a gun battle.

The Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) in Srinagar, which came under the militant attack, was gutted.

The centre is inside a compound that houses several government offices, including the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) office.

The attack has meant a growing fear psychosis and a visible tighetning of the security apparatus.

United stand

But most importantly, all of Kashmir's political parties, whether in government or in opposition, are backing the bus service.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has said she will travel on the front seat of the bus till wherever Pakistan allows.

Islamabad had shot down the proposal for mainstream Kashmiri politicians to also travel on the bus.

While most Kashmiris have condemned the attempt on the passengers' lives, Islamabad has also slammed the incident.

On their part, hardline separatist Hurriyat group has said yesterday's attack raises the question of India and Pakistan solving the core issue of J&K.

But for now, security forces and the people of Kashmir are holding their collective breath, hoping that Kashmir's date with destiny will go off smoothly.

from ndtv.com