SRINAGAR, Feb 20: The chief minister of the occupied Kashmir on Monday opened a ‘peace bridge’ linking the Indian-held Kashmir with Azad Jammu and Kashmir, replacing a narrow footbridge that was severely damaged by a devastating earthquake last year.

The new 220-metre bridge was erected by Indian army soldiers to facilitate possible future trade links between the two countries, officials said.

“The new bridge has an advantage over the old one, as vehicles and trucks can cross over it,” Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, said on Monday.

The bridge is crucial because it lies on the route of a recently resumed bus service. The passengers are driven to the bridge, but must walk across it to catch another bus to resume their journey on the other side.—AP