New Delhi, Apr 25:The government on Friday said it intended to liberalise the entry permit system to ease travel and trade across the Line of Control (LoC), besides favouring an increase in the frequency of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot bus services.

Making a suo motu statement on Jammu and Kashmir in both Houses of Parliament, home minister Shivraj Patil said India will discuss these issues very soon with Pakistan.

He also said that India favoured an early launch of bus services between Kargil in Ladakh and Skardu in Northern Areas and Jammu and Sialkot in PoK. “With a view to further consolidate the confidence building initiatives already taken, it has been planned to liberalise the entry permit system for cross LoC travel by bringing in features like triple entry permits valid for one year and completion of the verification process within six weeks,” he said. The measure would enable wider cultural, academic, students and other exchanges, he added.

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