In occupied Kashmir, thousands of Kashmiri families have been waiting for an opportunity to meet their relatives after India and Pakistan opened several crossing points along the Line of Control (LoC) in early 2000. Around 7000 families in the occupied territory are unable to meet their relatives in Azad Jammu and Kashmir due to tough travel procedures, KMS reported.
Only 3536 persons out of a total of 15,390 applicants had been able to undertake the trip over the LoC since the opening of the crossing points in Uri, Poonch, Teetwal and Balnoi areas. Sources in Srinagar said that 15,390 applications had been received for travel across the LoC through the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot bus services, out of which 11,250 have been cleared after verification at Srinagar.
A crossing point was opened after October 8, 2005 devastating earthquake for the people of border area Karnah to meet with their divided families. This step aroused delight among the Kashmiris but many people remained deprived of the facility because of tough travel procedures.