Friday, April 15 2005 12:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Apr 15, 2005) said that it is the joint responsibility of India and Pakistan as also the local authorities on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) to ensure full security cover to passengers of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.

"Notwithstanding the recent dastardly attempt to disturb the bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad by terrorists, the people of Jammu and Kashmir came out on the streets as one to welcome this gesture of reconciliation," he said addressing the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security in New Delhi.

"I hope the terrorists and extremists in the region have grasped the mood of the people and will not try to disturb this bus service again," he said.

Singh said it was the joint responsibility of the Governments of India and Pakistan and the local authorities on both sides of the LoC to work together in providing full security cover to the bus passengers.

"I hope we can work together in protecting the lives of innocent people and in fighting the scourge of terrorism in the region," the Prime Minister said.