Islamabad, Mar 05: India and Pakistan will soon start a a new direct bus service between Lahore and Amritsar. Both the countries have agreed to launch the bus service to facilitate Sikh pilgrims and increase people-to-people contacts, Pakistani daily The News today said quoting a senior official. ``This move is being seen as a confidence-building measure and yet another effort to increase people-to-people contacts.`` At present, Indians hailing from Punjab and other states have to travel several kilometers to New Delhi to board the bus to Pakistan as the Lahore-Delhi bus passes through Amritsar without any stoppage. New Delhi and Islamabad are working out new visa procedures for the travelers.
Bus services between the two countries had resumed on July 11 after 18 months. New Delhi had suspended the service in December 2001, following an attack on its Parliament by Pakistan-backed militants.
Bureau Report