Setting new milestones on the road to a soft border, India and Pakistan Wednesday agreed to launch another cross-border bus service as well as a truck service across the divided halves of Kashmir to boost trade and popular contacts between the two countries.

The two sides also went ahead with their discussions on modalities over how to make functional the meeting points along the Line of Control (LoC) to enable divided families to meet each other, the Indo-Asian News Service reported.

The two countries had agreed on this arrangement in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that killed several thousands in Pakistani and Indian Kashmir last year.

"Both sides also agreed to start the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad truck service to facilitate cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade in the first half of July 2006," said a joint statement at the end of the two-day technical-level talks on enhancing interaction and cooperation across the LoC.

They also exchanged indicative lists of goods for trade, which could include items like pashm shawls and carpets.

The truck route is meant only for products made or grown in Kashmir, official sources said.

Delegations from chambers of commerce from both sides of the LoC will finalize various aspects of cross-border trade soon.

A bus service connecting Poonch in Indian-controlled Kashmir to Rawalakot in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir will be launched on June 19 this year. Initially, this bus service will operate on a fortnightly basis and its frequency may be extended after a review.

"The procedures, documentation and modalities will be the same as for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service," said the joint statement.

Both sides also reviewed the operation of the Srinagar- Muzaffarabad bus service and of the five crossing points across the LoC.

Source: Xinhua