Annan lauds new bus service in Jammu and Kashmir as powerful gesture of peace

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan lauded the inauguration of a landmark bus service across the Indian-Pakistani ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir today, calling it "a powerful gesture of peace and an opportunity to reunite families divided for nearly 60 years," despite security challenges.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his hope that this important step will lead to further progress towards improving conditions for the divided population and the resolution of all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan," said a statement issued by a UN spokesperson.

Yesterday, he strongly condemned a fiery attack on a complex to house passengers waiting to take the first bus trip between Muzzafarabad and Srinagar, across the ceasefire Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has been deployed to observe a ceasefire in disputed Jammu and Kashmir since 1949. The princely state was split between the two South Asian countries after they won independence from the United Kingdom in 1947.