Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus to benefit region: Britain

NEW DELHI, Feb 17 (UNI): Britain today welcomed the decision of India and Pakistan to start the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service from April 7, stating that it would benefit the entire region.

"This spirit of cooperation will, I hope, lead to many more measures that will benefit all in the region," visiting British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said in a statement here.

Besides helping reunite families that have been divided for decades, the move would make a "real difference" to the lives of Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control.

"I warmly applaud the efforts of both India and Pakistan to make this happen," he said.

The proposed bus service was announced in Islamabad yesterday by visiting External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri.

Straw had arrived here yesterday on a three-day visit to India during which he would be visiting the Golden Temple and the Jallianwala Bagh memorial at Aitsar, besides meeting Natwar Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and BJP President L K Advani.

In his arrival statement, the British Minister had said there was scope for further strengthening the trade relations between the two countries.