Hundreds of people cheered and clapped as the bus arrived in the city of Lahore on Friday without incident after 14 hours on the road from Delhi.

The uneventful arrival was a relief for the local police - after threats of attack from militants on both sides of the India-Pakistan border.

"We were worried about violence, but it was peaceful all the way," said Gurjit Singh, chairman of the transportation commission for the Indian capital.

Hours before the bus arrived, militant Muslim demonstrators in the heart of Lahore protested against the bus service, warning of violence.

"We will never allow Nawaz Sharif to start this bus service," said student Muslim leader Liaqat Baluch.

"This is part of an American agenda. ... It will send a message to Kashmiri freedom-fighters that Islamabad will not support them," he added.

Trial run

The bus carried 30 passengers, mostly officials from the transport and customs department.

The BBC's Paul Donohar: "A date for the start of the full service has not been announced"

Their 480km trip was a trial run for a Delhi to Lahore service due to come into effect on 20 January - the first since the two nations became independent in 1947.

The decision to start the bus service came during peace talks between the two countries last year.

The city of Lahore lies close to Pakistan's border with the Indian state of Punjab, around 500km north of Delhi.

The bus service is seen as an attempt to bridge the gap between neighbours who have fought three wars since the Asian sub-continent gained independence from the UK in 1947.

High security

The bus set off amid tight security, after Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party activists said they would disrupt the journey.

Dozens of policemen searched passengers and their luggage before they were allowed to board the bus, and a convoy of police vehicles escorted the bus in Delhi.