SRINAGAR: At a time when India is discussing options including review of Indus Water Treaty and Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan after recent deadly militant attack on army base in Uri, the cross-LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) resumed on Tuesday.
“The cross-LoC trade between J&K and PaK resumed today after remaining suspended for over two months,” Custodian of Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre Farooq Ahmad Shah said.
The cross-LoC trade had remained suspended since July 12 due to the prevailing unrest in the Valley.
“12 truckloads of goods from J&K crossed into PaK while a truck-load of goods from PaK arrived here,” Shah said.
The official said Deputy Commissioner Barmaulla had recently held meetings with traders to discuss the status of cross-LoC trade.
“Traders of both sides were conveyed that the trade would be resumed from today after they had agreed to resume the trade activities,” he said.
21 tradeable items, including eatables, garments and handicrafts, are traded on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir and Poonch-Rawalakote in Jammu.
The cross-LoC trade, which started in October 2008, is being seen as one of the biggest Kashmir-specific Confidence Building Measure (CBM) announced by India and Pakistan. The trade takes places four days in a week.
Asked whether they had any directions from government not to allow cross-LoC trade in view of the heightened tension between India and Pakistan, the official said they had no such intimidation from the government.
The tension between India and Pakistan has increased after the deadly militant attack on army base in Uri near Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir. At least 18 army men were killed and over two dozen injured in the militant attack. All the four attackers said to be members of Jaish-e-Mohammad were also killed in the retaliatory firing of the security forces.
After the attack, Indian has been discussing options to hit back at Pakistan.
Prime Minister Narendra Mod chaired Indus Water Treaty review meeting in national capital yesterday during which he said “blood and water cannot follow together”.
Besides, there are reports that India may review MFN status granted to Pakistan.