Pakistan rejects India's protest over CPEC bus service

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday rejected protest by New Delhi over the bus service initiated between China and Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), according to a Foreign Office statement.

"We reject the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)' purported protest and statement regarding bus service through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," the Foreign Office said. "India's repeated regurgitation of claims over Indian-occupied Kashmir can neither change the facts of history nor the legality of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute."

It noted that as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is disputed, the final status of which is to be determined through a democratic and impartial plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the UN.

"In complete violation of the UNSC resolutions, and against the wishes of the Kashmiri people, India continues to maintain its illegal hold over Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir through brutal use of force," the Foreign Office lamented, reminding New Delhi that its leaders had committed to hold the plebiscite.

The Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains the most militarised zone in the world, where the occupying forces are killing and maiming people on a daily basis, it noted.

The gross and systematic violations of human rights of the people of occupied valley at the hands of Indian forces have been extensively documented in the report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2018.

"By raising frivolous issues, India cannot mislead the international community or hide its state-terrorism against a people engaged in a legitimate struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination," the Foreign Office maintained.

Demanding New Delhi to end its illegal occupation of the Kashmir, the Foreign Office said, "We also call upon India to allow the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommended by the OHCHR to investigate human rights violations, and resolve the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people."

CPEC Passenger Bus Service

The bus service, CPEC Passenger Bus Service, will start operations from November 3. It will be a 30-hour long trip and passengers will get to enjoy view of beautiful sights of northern Pakistan.

As per schedule issued by authorized operator, the bus service will run four days a week from Lahore to Tashkurgan. The departure from Lahore would be on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday while departure from Tashkurgan would be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The passengers can book their seats either from Lahore or Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The bus service offers premium and luxurious buses, comfortable journey, better en-route services that include breakfast, lunch, dinner refreshment beverages, tea, and snacks, while Wi-Fi service would also be provided throughout the journey.