SRINAGAR, 6 April 2005 — Militants opposed to a bus link joining parts of Kashmir controlled by rivals India and Pakistan set off bombs and fought gunbattles with troops yesterday, two days before the service was due to start.

The bus service, due to be launched tomorrow, is the most visible sign of progress in a slow-moving peace process between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, who have fought two wars over Kashmir in the last half a century.

But militants fighting against Indian rule in the disputed territory have repeatedly threatened to sabotage the service and kill passengers, saying the transport link served India’s aim to hold on to Kashmir.

Nine militants and two Indian soldiers were killed separately across the region in the last 24 hours, security officials said, adding that they expected militants to mount more attacks to intimidate people and derail the service.

Separatist violence had dipped in Kashmir over the last year, coinciding with peace talks between India and Pakistan.

But over the last 10 days at least 57 people - mostly guerrillas - have been killed and another 50 people wounded as violence has increased.

Suspected militants set off a home-made bomb on the route of the cross-border bus service, wounding seven road workers digging by the highway near Pattan town.

The bomb went off less than an hour after soldiers defused two powerful land mines a few miles away on the same mountain road, causing security forces to further intensify patrols even as militants issued a fresh threat.

“A major tragedy was averted,” Neeraj Sharma, a Border Security Force (BSF) spokesman, said referring to land mines defused by BSF soldiers.

Across Jammu and Kashmir, nine militants were shot dead in separate gunbattles while two soldiers were killed in a shootout with separatist guerrillas trying to infiltrate into Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani side, police said.

The bus, due to be flagged off by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Indian side, will link Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir, with Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir, and reunite families divided by a 56-year cease-fire line.

Kashmiris have welcomed the bus service after years of violence in the Himalayan land. But repeated threats by militant groups who have told passengers that the bus could become their “coffin”, have sparked a scare among passengers.

The militants, representing four separatist groups, issued a fresh threat yesterday.

“If you board the bus and strengthen Indian hands you will writhe in blood and dust,” a joint statement from Al Nasireen, Save Kashmir Movement, Farzandan-e-Milat and Al Arifeen said.

“It is better not to indulge in anti-freedom movement activities to save you and your family from the horrible punishment,” they said.

Following the threats, Indian authorities have moved passengers due to take the bus to a heavily-guarded complex in Srinagar, Kashmir’s main city, and soldiers were patrolling the road with mine detectors and sniffer dogs.

Police have also detained nearly 50 people on suspicion of links with militant groups.

Workers yesterday beautified Srinagar for the launch of the bus service, which is resuming for the first time since the first war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir in 1947-48.

Roads in the city were being repaired, walls painted and colorful banners hung along main streets. The 120-km route from Srinagar to the frontier was dotted with soldiers while buildings facing the highway were being painted in green.

“It is good, it is good,” Srinagar taxi driver Gulzar said referring to the bus service. “People feel it will help normalize the situation here.”