Historic Bus Boosts Pakistan India Peace Hopes

The first group of 31 passengers arrived from Pakistan’s side of the province at 2 p.m., walking across a 220-foot steel bridge, where they were mobbed by Indian officials and soldiers bearing gifts, sweets and garlands of marigolds. One of the Kashmiri passengers knelt to kiss the asphalt. Some wept. The bus service established the first link between the two sides of the province in nearly 60 years and is the most tangible achievement to emerge from peace negotiations between India and Pakistan that began last year in January.