Pakistan has cleared 29 of the 40 applications received from people in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] wanting to travel by the first bus from Srinagar [Images] to Muzaffarabad on April 7, official sources said.

Similarly, India has cleared the names of 43 of the 46 applicants who had sought permits to travel by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus, they said.

India and Pakistan had last week exchanged the lists of people seeking permit to travel. The lists were returned to each other on Wednesday during a meeting between a Pakistani delegation, led by Liaqat Hussain Choudhry, Deputy Commissioner of Muzaffarabad, and Indian officials at the Kaman post on the Indian side.

• Don't enter Kashmir bus, warn militants

The meeting began at 1530 IST and went on for about an hour with the two sides discussing the mode of transshipment at Kaman bridge and other security-related matters concerning the bus service, the sources said.

Choudhry told reporters that Pakistan had cleared 29 of the 40 persons on the Indian list to travel on the Jhelum valley bus service.

Srinagar Regional Passport Officer John S Shilshi said three applications from the Pakistani side were still being verified.

• Bussing the peace process

India and Pakistan had agreed to allow 30 passengers from either side of the Line of Control to board the bus, which is expected to be run fortnightly. However, with the Pakistani authorities clearing only 29 names from the Indian side, one seat in the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus will remain vacant.