MUZAFFARABAD, June 20: A second bus service, linking Rawlakot in Azad Kashmir with Poonch in the Indian-held territory, was flagged off on both sides of the heavily-militarised Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday.

Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Sardar Sikandar Hayat sent off 29 people from this side of the LoC after military and civilian officials from both sides exchanged pleasantries, sweets and gifts along the along Tetrinote-Chakan da Bagh crossing point. Colourful balloons and pigeons were released to mark the occasion.

“I welcome the bus service. And I thank both the governments because they have provided Kashmiris an opportunity to travel to the other side to visit their relatives,” Mr Hayat told a large number of people who had gathered to receive or see off their relatives.

“However, it is a process to reunite the divided families on both sides (of the LoC) and not the ultimate goal,” he said.

Prime Minister Hayat said that the bus or truck services or other confidence-building measures should not be misconceived as solution of the Kashmir issue.

Mr Hayat also received 30 passengers from the other side of the LoC.

The ceremony, however, lacked official enthusiasm and media hype that was witnessed as the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was inaugurated, the first transport link between the two sides in nearly six decades. That service was also flagged off by Mr Hayat while it was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the other side.

Although it is called Rawlakot-Poonch bus service, but it does not carry passengers from Rawlakot, which is located about 47 kilometres from Tetrinote, the last village on this side of the LoC.

On Tuesday, passengers reached the Tetrinote village on their own and boarded a bus to ride the 700 odd metres to the LoC. However, on the other side, the bus started its journey from Poonch city which is around 13 kilometres away from the LoC.

Indian Congress leader Sonia Gandhi flagged off the bus service at Chakkan Da Bagh, the last village on the Indian side of the LoC. She was accompanied by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, occupied Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and his predecessor and People’s Democratic Party leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Ms Gandhi reportedly said that the service was bound to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.