Despite India’s Hindrance, China And Pakistan Run Bus Service Through PoK

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Lahore: Despite India’s strong protest, a private bus service between Lahore(Pakistan) and Kashgar(China) has reportedly been launched late on Monday night. The first bus of the service left for Kashgar from the terminal at Lahore’s Gulberg area and will cover the one-way journey in 30 hours. Moreover, the bus service will pass through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is a potential threat to Indians.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said, “We have lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan on the bus service that will operate through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.”

The bus service was due to be to launch on November 3 but was postponed reportedly because of security reasons.

An amount of Pakistani Rs. 23,000 per ticket has been set for a round trip on the bus, while a one-way ticket from Lahore to Kashgar will cost Pakistan Rs. 13,000 per person.

Passengers have been asked to carry a valid passport, visa and a return ticket as travel documents. The baggage of not more than 20 kg will be allowed.

On November 1, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar asserted that: “Any bus service passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a violation of India’s sovereignty and territoriality.”

“It is government of India’s consistent and well-known position that the so-called China-Pakistan ‘boundary agreement’ of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by the Government of India,” Mr Kumar had said.

Pakistan and China don’t share a border. Pakistan’s only link to China is through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It is India and Afghanistan which share a border, now cut-off by Pakistan’s forceful occupation of PoK.

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