SRINAGAR-
The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service resumed on Monday post a two-week suspension due to a deadlock over the arrest of a driver from Azad Kashmir on alleged drug trafficking charges.
The bus from India, carrying 28 passengers reached Kaman Post – the zero point on Line of Control in Uri sector of Baramulla district – shortly before Noon, officials said.
They said the passengers included 10 Azad Jammu and Kashmir returning residents and 18 Indian visitors.
Travel and trade activities were suspended on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road after Indian authorities arrested a truck driver on recovery of 110 packets of brown sugar worth Rs. 100 crores from his truck coming from across the LoC on January 17.
In retaliation, AJK authorities detained 27 Indian drivers along with their trucks, demanding release of the arrested driver.
They also refused to take back 48 other AJK drivers till their demand was met.
Several meetings were held to end the deadlock by the officials who finally decided to resume the bus service in a meeting on January 30.
The officials decided to continue talks until a solution to the trade suspension is agreed upon.