Cross-LoC traders welcome move to restore India-Pak trade links

Traders related to cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday welcomed the move to resume trade between India and Pakistan, because it rekindled a hope that the enterprise between the 2 components of J&K, suspended since March 2019, might also come up for a dialogue between the 2 international locations.

“We welcome the step to resume trade between India and Pakistan. We demand that the government should also resume cross-LoC trade, as J&K is witnessing a rise in unemployment. Those related to the trade, including businessmen, labourers, drivers, hotels and even restaurants in Uri (a connecting point in north Kashmir’s Baramulla) are having a tough time,” S. Samiullah, vice chairman of the Salamabad Cross-LoC Traders Union instructed The Puucho.

Mr. Samiullah mentioned the cross-LoC trade, began in 2008, from Baramulla’s Uri additionally introduced “an end to skirmishes between the two armies along the LoC in the area”. “The movement of goods and trucks helped in ensuring that the ceasefire is maintained. It became a contributing factor in maintaining the ceasefire on the LoC. It will only help the recent pact between India and Pakistan to maintain a ceasefire in J&K,” he added.

Around 21 gadgets of products have been authorized by India and Pakistan to trade from the dual routes of Salamabad in Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and Chakandabagh in Poonch district earlier, the place trade would happen 4 days per week. It was halted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2019 after it prompt the trade was “misused to fund militancy and separatism” in J&K. Around 200 traders have been related to the trade.

“We call upon the governments of Pakistan and India to restore trade on LoC as a confidence building measure. It will open a bridge for public relations and open gates of peace,” Mirza Shakeel, spokesman of the Traders of Inter-Kashmir Trade, mentioned in a press release.