Himalayan News Service

Islamabad, February 17:

The resumption of bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad hogged the headlines in Pakistan today. Papers were full of the announcement of the bus service between the two halves of Kashmir, made yesterday during Indian External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh’s visit to Pakistan.

The Jang gave the story front-page prominence and called it “the mother of all the CBMs (confidence building measures).” The paper appreciated the move and said it would be a great opportunity for the people of Kashmir divided between India and Pakistan to meet each other. The Dawn was also equally appreciative of the move saying this could bring more warmth in relations between the two countries.

The Urdu-language newspaper Khabrain said the move could lead to many other CBMs between the countries and ultimately to permanent peace in the region.