NEW KASHMIR BUS SAFELY LAUNCHED, BUT TERROR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 004369 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER PBTS SCUL ELTN IN PK SUBJECT: NEW KASHMIR BUS SAFELY LAUNCHED, BUT TERROR CONTINUES REF: A. NEW DELHI 3835 ¶B. 05 NEW DELHI 1282 NEW DELHI 00004369 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The second trans-LoC bus, connecting Poonch in J&K with Rawalkote in Pakistani Kashmir for the first time in 58 years, kicked off yesterday without a hitch or an attack. This bus may end up being more heavily used than the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route because more families are divided in Jammu than in Kashmir. Although the bus escaped targeting, at least for now, terrorism in J&K continues in June; one particularly gruesome attack that left 10 dead included a beheading and mutilation. In addition to scaring away tourists from what had been predicted to be one of J&K's most successful tourism seasons in years, the continued violence is leading some Hindus to cancel plans to participate in one of the religion's most significant pilgrimages, the Amarnath Yatra. End Summary. New Bus Service Launched Peacefully -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Hoping that "with this bus service the people-to-people contact will increase" and proclaiming that "it has demolished another wall of mistrust between our two countries," UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee, J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, his predecessor Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and federal Water Minister (and Delhi-Srinagar back-channel) Saifuddin Soz on June 20 flagged off the second cross-LoC bus link connecting Poonch (Indian side) and Rawalkote (Pakistan side),just one day after the original target date. The April 2005 launch of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was met with a spectacular attack on the Srinagar Tourist Office, but no terrorist incident was reported for the Poonch-Rawalkote launch. In fact, reports indicate a festival-like atmosphere, with security forces on either side of the crossing point celebrating by exchanging sweets and flowers. ¶3. (SBU) This bus stands a chance of being more heavily used than the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus because more families are divided in Jammu than in Kashmir, but the documentary process is such a pain, say our contacts, that it is almost easier just to get a visa in Delhi that allows travel throughout Pakistan, and not merely to divided J&K. The modalities and frequency of the dual bus service and the travel documents procedure mirror those for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus (Ref B),including the requirement for passengers to clear customs at the cross-over point and walk across the LoC because the busses will not cross. ¶4. (U) The station-to-station route is 47km, of which only 10km lie within India. In the inaugural run, the bus departing Poonch carried 66 passengers -- 36 of these were returning to their homes in Pakistani Kashmir, including some who had crossed the LoC on foot via the authorized land crossings established last winter, the remainder being Indian nationals. The Chakan-da-Bagh border post is one of these crossings. The bus originating from Rawalkote brought 29 passengers to J&K. The last bus to ply this route ceased operations 58 years ago. But Terror Has Not Taken a Holiday -------------- NEW DELHI 00004369 002.2 OF 002 ¶5. (U) Bus euphoria notwithstanding, the drum-beat of terrorist attacks against non-Kashmiris (Ref A) continues unabated. In only the last week, significant attacks include: -- Two security officers and four civilians were injured in a June 19 grenade attack on a bus in Doda. -- Eight unidentified terrorists reportedly sporting military uniforms rounded up 13 Bihari and Nepalese laborers and a newly-recruited Kashmiri soldier. The terrorists tortured the abductees, including cutting off their ears and noses, then they shot dead nine of the laborers, wounded four, and beheaded the soldier. -- Also on June 12, a grenade attack on a Jammu bus stand left one dead and 18 wounded. The bus stand was only 2km from the base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, one of the most important annual Hindu pilgrimages. Violence Scaring Away Tourists, Pilgrims ... -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Our Kashmiri contacts tell us that tourism numbers continue to drop in the wake of the continued terrorist violence. Targeting tourism infrastructure, including busses, and killing non-Kashmiris (including imported laborers) is sending a signal to the rest of India to stay away; Indians are picking up on that signal. In addition to tourism, we hear that the attacks are stifling attendance for the yatra. Srinagar-based "Asian Age" reporter Yusuf Jameel estimated earlier this month that "half-a-million devotees are expected to undertake the journey," but some hotels are already reporting massive cancellations. ¶7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD