Over 1,500 people from India and Pakistan, separated from their family members, crossed the border by road through the Kaman crossing post in Jammu and Kashmir in the last one and half years.

Since the Uri-Muzaffarabad trans-border road was opened on April 7, 2005, as many as 1,577 people crossed via Kaman post to meet their relatives, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a written reply to a question in the Assembly on Monday.

A total of 42 bus trips were conducted during the period taking 1,577 passengers of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir to their respective destinations.

Of the 1,577 cross-border passengers, 742 Indian nationals travelled to PoK, while 835 PoK dwellers visited Jammu and Kashmir to meet their relatives on the two sides of Line of Control, he said.

Referring to a question regarding the launch of truck service on the trans-border road, he said its early start is under consideration and technical-level talks were held with Pakistan on cross-LoC Confidence Building Measures in May 2006 in New Delhi.

The working group on strengthening relations across the LoC is also considering the promotion of trade and business between both sides, he said.

In reply to another question, Azad said large number of people having relatives on both sides of the LoC have benefitted by the road link.

He said the procedure for obtaining permission to travel across the LoC has been laid down, and the issue has also been examined by the round table conference in order to simplify the process.