From being billed as mother of "all confidence building measures" to derision as a "cosmetic step", Srinagar-Muzaffarabad cross-Line of Control bus service has survived tensions between India and Pakistan including Mumbai terror attacks and numerous ceasefire violations along the border to complete 10 years of its operation on Tuesday.
Suspended several times over variety of reasons, the bus service has proved to be boon to thousands of people from divided families living on either side of the LoC.
The bus service faced opposition from different quarters including militants. 2008 devastating earthquake had damaged the 'Aman Sethu' bridge connecting this side with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Named as 'karvan-e-aman' (peace caravan) and billed as mother of all confidence building measures, the bus service between Srinagar and PoK capital was flagged off by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 7, 2005, a day after terrorists carried out a suicide attack aimed at disrupting the bus service before its flagging off.
However, the bus service continued its 170-km run between the two parts, bringing close the families divided for decades.
Those desirous of travel on the bus have to apply at the regional passport office in Srinagar, which is the designated authority to evaluate applications, verify identities and issue entry permits.
Given the popularity of the bus service, the frequency was increased. From fortnightly at the time of the inception the service was made weekly few years later.
Senior separatist leaders of Hurriyat Conference also travelled across the LoC through the bus when India and Pakistan started a composite dialogue in 2005.
Many separatist leaders, after initially hailing the bus service, have said it has remained a "cosmetic measure" as the majority of the population of the erstwhile undivided Jammu and Kashmir were not able to avail this facility.
The moderate faction of the Hurriyat has been vocal in demanding that the travel across the LoC be made permit-free for all residents of the undivided state.
The bus remained suspended for several months in the wake of devastating earthquake in October 2005.
The giant tremor damaged the Aman Setu near Kaman post on the LoC in Uri sector. However, the bridge was reconstructed and the bus service resumed on February 20, 2006 after remaining suspended for over five months. The bus also remained suspended for more than 20 days because of unprecedented floods last year.
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service has also been in the news for wrong reasons. The recovery of narcotic consignments twice and hawala money forced the suspension of the service, latest being in February this year.
Though the contraband including brown sugar and heroin was recovered from a Pakistani truck during cross-Loc trade, the arrest of the concerned driver led to the suspension of the bus service as well.
