A group on confidence building measures has recommended opening of seven additional routes for bus services between the two parts of Kashmir and favoured treating permanent resident certificates as the basic document for issuing travel permits.
The working group on CBMs along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, one of five working groups set up after the second round-table conference in Srinagar in May 2006, also recommended opening up of seven new crossing points along the LoC and two additional contact points along the border.
Stressing on the need for having a liberal travel mechanism, the group, headed by R S Rasgotra, has also called for broadening scope of visits across LoC by including more persons instead of confining the issuance of travel permits only to divided families.
Out of five groups, four have submitted their reports to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The group on strengthening of Centre-state relations, which had on its agenda the controversial subjects of self-rule and autonomy, is yet to submit its report.
The group on CBMs favoured opening of new cross-LoC routes to increase frequency of bus services which, at present, is confined to Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot.
The new points recommended by the group for bus service are Kargil-Skardu, Jammu-Sialkote, Turtuk-Khapulu, Chhambjourian-Mirpur (across Munawar Tawi), Gurez-Astoor-Gilgit, Titwal-Chilhan (across Neelam valley) and Jhangar (Nowshera)-Mirpur and Kotli.
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