Cross-LoC trade remains suspended in Poonch for 9th week in JK

The cross-LoC bus service between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) via Poonch-Rawalakot road remained suspended for the ninth week today.

"The cross-LoC trade continued to remain suspendedtoday. It is ninth week of suspension of trade," Custodian of LoC Trade Poonch, Mohammad Tanveer, told PTI.

Businessmen engaged in barter trade between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir suffered a loss of about Rs 63 crore owing to suspension of the cross-LoC trade.

The trade along with cross-LoC bus service, billed as biggest confidence building measure between the two countries, remained suspended along Poonch-Rawalakot route through Chakan-da-bagh crossing point since July 10-11 following sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistani Army this year.
 

Tanveer said goods worth Rs 6 to 7 crore used to be traded from this side every week.

The goods worth Rs 1,500 crore were traded by the businessmen of the divided parts of Kashmir since thestart of the facility in 2008.

While the bus service remained suspended since July 10, the trade, which usually takes place for three days from Tuesday, was suspended on July 11 after heavy firing and shelling from the Pakistani side caused damage to trade facilitation centres and police barracks.

Besides Poonch, the cross-LoC trade also takes place through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in Uri sector of Kashmir valley.

The trade and cross-LoC bus service was continuing on the route despite recovery of 66.5 kgs of heroin and brown sugar from a truck coming from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at Salamabad trade facilitation centre in Uri on July 21.

The Cross-LoC trade takes place on barter system where goods are exchanged against goods only and has survived opposition from various quarters including separatists and militants in the valley and rightwing political parties in Jammu.

Of late, the trade has been in focus amid reports that the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing terror funding in Kashmir, may recommend closure of trade along these routes.

However, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti last month strongly rooted for cross-LoC trade, stating that her party, PDP, would not allow its closure and continue to work towards opening more routes across the LoC with PoK.