New Delhi: The proposed bus link between Srinagar and Muzaffarbad hit a roadblock today (Dec 7, 2004) with Pakistan rejecting India's new offer of use of entry permits along with passports by the passengers and insisting on State subject certificate as travel document.

New Delhi made the offer on the opening day of the two-day technical level talks on the bus service to overcome the documentation issue while Pakistan stuck to its position that State subject certificate should work as identity on the basis of which the two sides can allow Kashmiris to visit the other side of the LoC.

While India favoured use of the bus service by all Indians, Pakistan insisted that it should be exclusively for the Kashmiris from both sides.

Keen on starting the operations, New Delhi adopted a flexible approach by suggesting entry permits as travel documents, official sources said.

While passport will remain the basic identity document, the Indian side said the entry permit would be similar to visa. People on both sides would have to apply to the respective High Commissions and permits will be issued after normal verification.

Instead of the passports, the entry permits would be stamped at the border points.