SRINAGAR, May 20: A Pakistani Kashmiri who made headlines when he travelled to held Kashmir aboard the new trans-Kashmir bus service to wed his cousin, has returned home without his bride, an official said on Friday. The marriage between Ajmal Basharat, a resident of Azad Kashmir, and his cousin, Samia Hai, was the first such wedding since the April 7 launch of the bus service by India and Pakistan linking the divided region.

The marriage took place in the northern Bandipora town last month after Basharat arrived in held Kashmir.

“Basharat has left alone. His wife has been denied permission,” a police officer said, adding he had no other information.

Basharat boarded the bus in Srinagar on Thursday after authorities denied his wife permission to accompany him.

“I’m going back without my wife as she has not been given permission to travel to Azad Kashmir,” he told reporters before making the journey to Muzaffarabad.

Basharat, who migrated from held Kashmir in 1989, did not say whether Indian or Pakistani authorities had prevented her travelling with him.

Pakistan must clear would-be passengers who are also vetted by Indian intelligence authorities before being given permission to travel.

The bus service is aimed at helping the Kashmiri families divided for nearly six decades by a ceasefire line meet again.

“My application to extend my stay was rejected,” Basharat said. Pakistan and India have decreed passengers can stay only one month at their destinations.

“I’ll pursue permission for my wife’s travel from Pakistan,” Basharat said.

—AFP