To strengthen ties between India and Pakistan, the authorities of Pakistan have cleared the transit permits of 32 Indians to travel by the bus service to Pakistan.
Nostalgia ruled hearts when long separated cousins from India and Pakistan who were able to meet because of the bus service.
District Development Commissioner of Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan, called this step a good beginning for the year.
"This is a matter of happiness that in this new year, such a large number of people are going from this side to PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir). People will come here from that side too, but at present we don't have the full details. But this is a very good thing, as earlier, around four to six people used to come in April, but today 32 people are going. This is a good beginning and we hope that this will continue and be promoted further and confidence building measures will follow their due course and trade will be resumed "' he said
Frontier violence had taken a toll on the trade and travel between the two countries.
A resident of Pakistan's Punjab, Mohammedd Shabir Bhatti Rajput, hoped for the continuation of the bus service.
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"A list of 32 people which has been cleared by Pakistan since March 31, 2014 is very welcome. Our brothers and sisters who had been separated from us for years will go today and meet their relatives. I am very happy and I wish this continues,"said Rajput.
Relationship between India and Pakistan has not been smooth and trade and transit measures from both sides have suffered.