The automatic rifles have given way to spades and shovels, heavy artillery to earth movers and soldiers to construction workers. Troops in Azad and occupied Kashmir are working frantically to convert what was a mine-infested dirt track on one of the world's most heavily militarised frontiers into a peace road connecting the Indian and Pakistani sectors by bus. The hopes of millions of Kashmiris are riding on the success of the project, one of the most tangible signs of a fledgling peace after decades of enmity.
Agreement to launch the bus service has stoked huge anticipation on both sides, with people separated from their families for decades lining up in their hundreds for travel permits to make the 170-km (105-mile) journey.
"I am really very excited," said Ghulam Mohammad Lolabi, 83, flashing a victory sign in Muzaffarabad, after grabbing an application form for the permit.
"Many of my relatives living there (in Indian Kashmir) have died," he said. "But I hope I can see those who are alive."
Construction of the road began after nuclear-armed India and Pakistan agreed in February to launch an historic bus service between the two Kashmirs, divided by a half-century-old military cease-fire line and blighted by a bloody insurgency.
The service, it is hoped, will bolster the peace process between the two South Asian rivals.
This month, Indian and Pakistani soldiers removed all landmines on the track, which was last used by a bus in 1948, ahead of the launch of the bus service on April 7.
"The entire road has been demined. It is now safe for journey," Lieutenant-General Hari Prasad, who heads the Indian army's northern command, said at Kaman Post, the last border post on the Indian side.
"We look at it as a very good step towards normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan," he said. "This is going to be one of the biggest confidence-building measures so far.
Buses will run between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar restoring a service cut after the first war over Kashmir in 1947-48. A heavily mined 742-km (460-mile) cease-fire line has divided the scenic region ever since.
The bus service is the latest in a series of gestures by the neighbours to build trust since they embarked on a fresh peace drive in 2003. A cease-fire has largely held since late that year.
This week, visiting journalists saw hundreds of Indian and Pakistani workers laying stones and rebuilding the last stretches of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road.
The cease-fire line at Kaman Post is marked by a small stream surrounded by towering mountains. A wooden bridge over the stream was blown up during the 1947-48 war and the remaining four piers are a symbol of the region's history of division - two piers belong to India and two to Pakistan.
Labourers of the two countries were strengthening the first pillar on their respective sides ahead of building a new bridge.
As workers raced to finish the job, Indian and Pakistani soldiers stood relaxed around the area, a far cry from the daily artillery and gunfire exchanges prior to the cease-fire.
"Everything will be ready before March 31, even before that," Sardar Mohammad Rahim, a senior government official in Muzaffarabad, told Reuters.
For Kashmiris, much is riding on that optimism. "I can't express my sentiments," said Muzaffarabad resident Salah-ud-din, 50, whose father migrated to Pakistan in 1947.
"I have never met my relatives. I would have flown to Srinagar to see my dear ones, if I could."
On the Indian side of the line, emotions ran just as high. "I was thrilled when they started work on this road. Inshallah (God willing), finally we will be able to meet our relatives across. So far I have only seen their photographs," said 35-year-old Masood Ahmad, a government employee in Udosa village, about five km (three miles) from the cease-fire line.
Security forces, though, are worried that Islamic militants fighting New Delhi's rule could target the bus to try to derail the peace process.
"There will be no compromise on security measures. Security will be provided for the bus as we provide to army convoys," Prasad said.
JOKES BEING SHARED: Villagers watched in amazement as Pakistani and Indian officers shared jokes, tea and snacks while they worked to open a road over a heavily-fortified border in divided Kashmir.
The work on the road crossing the de facto border between the two countries in the Himalayan state follows decades of sniper and artillery fire across a dividing line strewn with landmines until a few weeks ago.
"I had never visualised Indians and Pakistanis working together. Now it is a treat to see them working on this road," said Mohammed Sidiq, a labourer from neighbouring Odussa village.
The situation contrasts with the only other border crossing between the two countries, at Wagah. There, soldiers from the two countries face off in an evening closing ceremony that ends with the gates slammed shut for the night.
It is also a change from a border stand-off in the summer of 2002, when the two countries almost went to war.
Instead, the soldiers are co-ordinating efforts to rebuild the bridge and road linking key Indian army post to Azad Kashmir.
"The army commanders from two sides share jokes, have tea and snacks during meetings," an Indian army officer said.
Only 15 months ago, the garrisons on either side of the road used to wake each other up with machine gun bursts and artillery fire. Suspicious movement on either side ignited gunbattles.
But things in this area changing fast. "There is complete co-ordination between the two sides in making the bus service a success," said senior Indian army officer V. Dwivedi, who is supervising renovation of a 60 meter (200 foot) span of road from occupied Srinagar to Kaman Bridge.
The change of mood is visible with local commanders from both armies routinely travelling across a makeshift bridge of planks to discuss the progress of the work, which began on February 23 a week after the two countries agreed to restart a bus service.
Kashmiris travelling on the fortnightly service will get locally-stamped permits to travel into what is essentially a foreign country.
"We villagers in border areas view the road opening as a big leap forward towards permanent peace," says Abdul Aziz, a resident of the border town of Uri.
Soldiers and labourers loudly sing Hindi film songs as they mix cement with water and sand. Weapons are carried only when a top commander visits the area.
"Look at that. How relaxed they are," says Dharmendra, an Indian soldier, pointing at a group of Pakistani troops basking atop a bunker.
He prays for peace to stay. "Both, we and them, are enjoying life now. Earlier there used to be fear of incoming shells or bullets," he said.
Neither do they have to worry about landmines anymore.
"The entire area has been demined. It is now safe," said Lieutenant General Hari Prasad, who heads the Indian army's northern command.
The two nuclear-armed countries have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of sending militants into Indian-held Kashmir to encourage separatists, a charge denied by Islamabad.
But the two countries began a peace process in January 2003 that has led to greater people-to-people contact as well as a cease-fire in Kashmir.
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