02 March 2005	Wednesday	20 Muharram 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 1: Removal of landmines on both sides of the Line of Control is one of the major problems that can delay the launch of the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service.

Informed sources told Dawn on Tuesday that senior military officers of India and Pakistan had established contact the other day and discussed early clearance of mines. The two sides would exchange information about the number of mines on each side of the border.

They did not rule out the possibility of the UN assistance in the form of technical know-how and financial help to carry out the job. Both India and Pakistan had planted thousands of mines along their border areas, including Kashmir, after wars in 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1998 (Kargil).

Sources said the two countries had agreed that not only the mines would be removed but a road would be built to facilitate the bus travel as the existing road on both sides of the LoC was in bad shape.

Sources said that Pakistan would provide funds to the army to get the road repaired and mines removed as early as possible. "But this job perhaps cannot be completed by April 7, the date agreed between the two countries for the revival of the old land route on both sides of the LoC," a source said.

During a visit to Jammu on Monday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had hinted the possibility of starting another bus service between Jammu and Sialkot.