Indian goods trucks parked outside the office of Tata in Chokothi sector, AJK along the Line of Control. PHOTO: AFP
The drivers and their trucks were detained on Friday evening after authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir accused one of them of smuggling drugs into the region.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Tata Director General (DG) Brig (retd) Muhammad Ismail said this was the second time India had spread ‘malicious propaganda’ against traders from AJK. He called for introducing a joint mechanism to avoid the suspension of cross-LoC trade.
“In the future, if authorities on either side of the ceasefire line recover any prohibited items from trucks moving across the LoC, it must be brought into the notice of the other side immediately,” he said.
“Making such claims without any proof or proper investigation will only benefit those who want to close the bus service and cross-LoC trade for good.” Brig Ismail said the manner in which Indian authorities recovered drugs from one of the trucks created doubts about the incident. “The presence of the Indian media and Anti-Narcotics Force when the recovery was made creates the impression that it was a drama planned to coincide with Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan’s talks with his counterpart in New Delhi.”
In response to a query as to why India would make ‘false claims’, the TATA DG said some elements in the Indian military did not want enhanced trade ties with Pakistan.
He said 90% of the cross-LoC traders belonged to families divided by the ceasefire line. He said these families relied on cross-LoC trade for their livelihood, a fact he added ‘irritates’ New Delhi.
“India wants to economically crush any pro-Pakistan elements in Indian-administered Kashmir.”
On Saturday, a Tata team met with their counterparts from India to negotiate the release of 76 trucks detained on both sides of the LoC. The talks, however, remained inconclusive.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2014.
COMMENTS (5)
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The article fails to clearly state that Pakistan has detained 27 Indian Trucks in retaliation +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ India must impose the most stringent action against the culprits.
What nonsense is this report? I just read news in India and also BBC Asia. India has returned 48 trucks and has only detained 1 truck, that has proven evidence of over 100 kg of prohibitive material... shameless, spineless, corrupt to the bones we are, no doubt these agencies in our side are hand in glove with these smugglers, and get a kickback. Instead of helping to arrest the smugglers, we are in a drama. It is distasteful to live here ... every day.
Pakistan needs to stop this. Why can't you look at it for what it is, a drug dealer smuggling drugs across the border.
Pakistan is also the epicenter of drug trade these days. More drugs are traded through Pakistan into Arabia, Europe and elsewhere than through central asia. It's probably because there are ready buyers in Pakistan and drugs are mostly grown in the southern regions of Afghanistan.
If India has accused cross border drug trade through LOC by the traders, it is exactly because of that.
Pakistan, your people are dying of drugs on a daily basis. Intoxication of any kind is forbidden in Islam. Yet, you continue to allow it. People consume Heroine (deadliest drug of all. deadlier than cocaine) openly on the streets of Pakistani cities.
Unless you start looking within, your death will be advanced.