http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0216/dailyUpdate.html
Just came across it, interesting to see some serious peace initiatives , may be one day I will be able to go and visit India and Israel.
Re: India Pakistan relations Thawing
There seem to be many wheels within wheels in the very welcome trans-LOC bus scheme. Of particular interest is this: non-Kashmiri Pakistanis and Indians too will be allowed to use this bus.
How this will work is unknown, but the implications are enormous. The news reports mention that the visitors on both sides will be restricted to the Indian and Pakistan administered areas of Kashmir. One effect is that PAK will now be accessible for all Indians and IAK for all Pakistanis.
A bigger effect is that in practice, much of India and Paksitan will also be accessible for visitors. There are currently no custom or immigration check posts, between say, J&K and the neighbouring Indian states. Covering all roads though not impossible, is not realistic. So how would a Pakistani, for example, be prevented from going to say, Delhi, when he is already in Srinagar? Get visitors to sign in at police stations daily? Even if this laughable method is the only way out, what would stop anyone from taking a flight to and back from Delhi for a day?
The bus scheme is welcome. But either not everything has been thought through or both the countries understand all the implications and have consciously chosen to go ahead. A momentous happening indeed.