)
A day after India summoned Pakistan’s acting high commissioner Mansoor Ahmad in connection with the suspension of cross-border trade and bus service, Pakistan on Wednesday asked India to immediately release the truck driver India had arrested along with the material seized from him.
The detention of the truck driver, who was detained for allegedly carrying narcotics from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the Indian side, was “in violation of the agreed modalities and the spirit of the cross line of control (LoC) trade,” said the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.
It said India should release the driver at once and hand over the material evidence seized from him along with the investigation report for “further probe and legal action by the Azad government of the state of Jammu and Kashmir”.
“Pakistan has asked India to immediately take necessary steps to resolve the matter enabling early resumption of cross-LoC trade and bus service,” Manzoor Ali Memon, spokesperson, Pakistan High Commission, told Business Standard.
The driver, Muhammad Shafi, who was plying on Chakothi-Uri crossing point on the LoC, was arrested by Indian authorities on January 17 and his truck was impounded for allegedly carrying narcotics meant for an Indian national.
The arrest took place on the same day when commerce secretaries of both sides were holding talks to normalise trading relations between both neighbours on the sidelines of the Saarc Business Conclave.
Following the arrest, Pakistan authorities manning the Kaman post on the LoC refused to send back Indian trucks. It also stopped the Srinagar-Muzzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote bus services.
Apparently, the truck passed through all the security clearances at the various check points located on the route, including the ones located on the Indian side where it got the clearance to proceed. Only after the truck had entered Indian soil, was it taken into custody.
Syed Akbaruddin, joint secretary and spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, had earlier said: “While the two foreign ministries are working towards resolving the matter through diplomatic channels, it is indeed surprising that Pakistan chose to hold hostage trans-LoC trade and travel, bringing immense humanitarian benefits to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, for the sake of persons indulging in drug trafficking.”
On Tuesday, India had even summoned Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner Mansoor Ahmad for stopping the trade and bus services across the LoC.
