Thursday, February 17 2005 11:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Lauding the agreement between India and Pakistan to start the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, National Conference Chief Omar Abdullah yesterday (Feb 16, 2005) said that it was a sign of "flexible attitude of New Delhi" on the Kashmir issue.

"The beginning of bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad is a sign of flexible attitude of New Delhi to find a lasting solution of the Kashmir issue," Abdullah said.

He said that by dropping its insistence on use of passports alone for travel in the bus, "the Centre has shown the courage of moving away from the oft-repeated stand and find ways to bring peace in the region."

Reports from Amritsar showed politicians and religious groups hailing the agreement reached between India and Pakistan on a bus service between Amritsar and Lahore saying it would play a key role in promoting ties between the masses and Governments of the two countries.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Bibi Jagir Kaur, welcoming the announcement of Amritsar-Lahore bus service, said Sikh masses would hail the move, as it had been their long-pending demand.

She said that now SGPC expects that with Amritsar-Lahore bus service there should be hassle-free visa system besides the establishment of a visa centre at Wagah border so that Sikhs keen to visit the gurdwaras in Lahore need not go to Delhi to procure visa for Pakistan.

Bibi Kaur, also a leader of Punjab's main Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), said the Amritsar-Lahore bus service would also enable Sikhs living in Pakistan to visit India and pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and other famous Sikh shrines in India.