Travel will be by an entry permit system, once identities are verified. Application forms for travel will be available with designated authorities in Occupied Srinagar and Muzaffarabad? The focus of the joint statement thus was obviously humanitarian and an attempt to unite divided families across the LoC.
To facilitate travel the entry permit would be available in the two cities. This bus service is, indeed, the mother of all Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), as for the first time the two governments have tacitly accepted that part of the disputed province is under the other's control.
While at first glance it may seem an obvious conclusion yet in the realm of international politics it is significant. One has to contrast this with several Arab countries still not recognising the existence of Israel to understand the implications of this joint declaration.
And even though visas will not be issued, only entry permits, a decision taken to deal with sensitivities on both sides of the border, a necessity at this juncture in the sub-continent, yet this is an extremely important first step towards achieving peace and security in the region.
However the launching of the proposed bus service must also be seen within the larger context of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between the two nuclear rivals. And it was this larger picture that accounted for the two Foreign Ministers making separate statements. Kasuri focused on the agreement to continue the composite dialogue process that would include Kashmir.
Foreign Minister Natwar Singh noted that the process can be sustained only in an atmosphere free from terrorism and violence. These statements may reflect that the two countries have not totally abandoned their traditional rigid positions against each other however Singh added that I am convinced that co-operation between our two countries is not just a desirable objective, it is an imperative.
This imperative accounts for the other CBMs discussed between the two in their latest round of talks held in Islamabad which include a joint study group on trade and economic co-operation, release of civilian prisoners, mostly poor fishermen who unwittingly stray into the territorial waters of the other country, a gas pipeline through Pakistan, finalisation of an agreement on pre-notification of missile tests, an MoU between the Indian Coast Guard and the Pakistani Maritime Security Agency and an MoU on co-operation between the narcotics control authorities of the two countries.
These are of course issues that are not core issues and yet are CBMs that would do much to improve bilateral relations. It is unfortunate that while inroads were made towards the eventual resolution of the Kashmir issue, the most contentious issue between the two countries, through the establishment of the bus service yet another very serious issue, namely the proposed Baglihar Dam project, was not discussed.
Baglihar, if constructed, would literally dry out AJK and its implications on life and fauna would be devastating. Thus there is a need to focus on that issue at a bilateral level as well as through the appointment of a mediator by the World Bank.