India and Pakistan seek to break Kashmir deadlock

Indian and Pakistani officials began a second day of talks today to end a deadlock over resuming a bus service in divided Kashmir, as the rivals attempt to ease a half-century of tension over their conflicting claims to the region.

Both sides will examine an Indian proposal that would give people from both countries a special permit to travel across Kashmir, which is divided between the neighbours but claimed in full by both.

An agreement would allow residents of the Indian and Pakistani-controlled portions of the region to cross the frontier for the first time since transportation links were severed in 1947, when Pakistan was carved out of India following independence from Britain. Thousands of families were separated.

As part of improving relations, both countries agreed earlier this year to restore a bus service linking India’s Kashmiri capital, Srinagar, and Muzaffarabad, Pakistan’s regional capital.

But disagreements over what documents travellers would use to cross the frontier has threatened to delay the service’s opening.

Islamabad is against its residents using passports since it says a cease-fire line that has divided the region since 1972 is not an international border.

Indian media today expressed scepticism that a deal would be reached during the two-day talks.

“Being the first of the technical meetings on the bus link, the issue was unlikely to be resolved this time,” said The Indian Express newspaper.

Yesterday, Indian officials suggested people on both sides of the frontier could apply for an entry permit to visit the other side and carry passports as proof of identification. The entry permits would be stamped at the border on arrival and departure, according to the Indian proposal.

Relations between Pakistan and India have been tense for more than 50 years. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, since independence.

Both sides have recently taken steps to improve ties by holding talks aimed at resolving their long-standing differences, including conflicting claims over Kashmir.