ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri Tuesday said preparation is under way to start bus service between Pakistan and India controlled Kashmir according to schedule.

    Talking to reporters here at local hotel after inaugurating a seminar on Kashmir, Kasuri said logistic arrangements are being made by the concerned authorities to ensure the bus service connecting Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, the respective headquarters of Pakistan and India controlled Kashmir, to start on April 7.

    "The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan-controlled Kashmir) government has imported a bridge to link the roads and other roads are being improved so that bus service could be made a reality," he said.

    The start of bus service between the two divided parts of Kashmir will be a great humanitarian Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between Pakistan and India, the minister said.

    In last month's talks between Kasuri and his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh in Islamabad, both Pakistan and India agreed to allowtravel across the Line of Control (Loc) by bus between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, the first bus linkage between the two Kashmirs within the past half century.

    The decision to commence Kashmir bus service should turn out tobe a win-win situation for all concerned, Kasuri said.

    "In deference to the wishes of the Kashmiri people, it has beenagreed that no passports or visas will be required for crossing the Loc. It is a good sign that neither party has claimed victory on this issue," he said.

    "The two governments have shown great sense of responsibility and flexibility to achieve the humanitarian CBM of starting bus service in Kashmir," Kasuri added

    It will also promote people to people contacts to further expedite the dialogue process between the two countries, he said. Enditem