Buses set to cross Kashmir divide despite attack

SRINAGAR, India - India and Pakistan open a historic bus link across divided Kashmir on Thursday, protected by heavy security following a suicide attack by separatist rebels on the Indian end of the route.

On the eve of the first journey, to be made over mountain roads in either direction by a few dozen Kashmiris, two gunmen stormed into a compound sheltering passengers due to travel from Srinagar on the Indian side and set it ablaze. They were killed and six people were hurt, though none among the travellers.

The 170-km bus link to Muzaffarabad in Pakistani Kashmir represents a small concession for families separated by conflict since 1947 but also carries hopes of a big boost to a cautious peace process, a week before Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf travels to New Delhi for talks.

India vowed that the first bus to cross the divide in half a century would be flagged off from Srinagar as scheduled, by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"We are absolutely prepared. We are safe, Inshallah (God willing) it will be a smooth journey," a top Indian security official said.

The now nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours have fought two wars over mainly Muslim Kashmir and were on the verge of a third in 2002 before pulling back from the brink.

Indian television quoted Singh saying the Srinagar raid could not be allowed to jeopardise peace efforts. Pakistan condemned the attack and offered sympathies to the passengers.

Four groups fighting Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan territory have threatened to turn the first bus between the two sides in half a century into a coffin for its passengers.

The Islamic rebels say the bus would only serve Indian aims to hold on to Kashmir and its passengers were insulting the 15-year insurgency by making the journey.

The groups claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, which left the yellow tourist complex building located in the heart of Srinagar's high-security zone in debris and ashes.

Security officials were hesitant to give more details of preventive measures they have put in place after Wednesday's attack, seen as a major embarrassment for New Delhi.

The entire 120-km mountain road from Srinagar to the frontier on the Indian side was lined with soldiers even before the suicide attack but rebels managed to set off a bomb by the road on Tuesday, wounding seven highway workers.

Hours earlier, security forces had found two big landmines miles away on the same road and had defused it.

In Srinagar, a scenic lakeside city ringed by mountains, soldiers closed roads, put up barricades, stepped up patrols and checked vehicles in the runup to the bus launch ceremony.

While passengers on the Indian side were moved to a secret base after the attack, passengers on the Pakistani side -- who will travel from the other side on another bus at the same time -- said they were not scared by violence.

"I am not scared. I will definitely go if the bus goes," said Nisar Ahmed Zakir. "In war-like situations such incidents happen. But I will go."

Abida Masoodi, a woman in her 50s, echoed his comments: "It's my firm decision to go provided the bus goes.

"If such a death is the fate, then it's OK."

- REUTERS