Businessmen want to expand intra-Kashmir trade

Traders mark completion of two years of cross Kashmir trade service in a rare meeting on LoC.

MUZAFFARABAD: Traders marked the completion of two years of cross Kashmir trade service in a rare meeting on the heavily-militarised Line of Control (LoC). Traders from both Azad Kashmir and Indian Kashmir  called upon their respective administrations to increase the trade volume and allow the traders of divided territory to meet every week at the LoC.

The one dozen traders, six from each side sat on the Peace Bridge at LoC in Chakothi under the watch of Indian and Pakistani civil and military officials and discussed the predicament they face in the weekly trading cross at the LoC and vowed to continue the trade despite challenges and obstacles.

The meeting took place after both officials exchanged sweets and flowers to commemorate the second anniversary of cross LoC trade which started after India and Pakistan agreed under confidence building measures in 2009 to facilitate more interaction between the people of divided Kashmir.

However, Kashmiri leaders opposed both the truck and bus services between Kashmir and termed it a move to make their sacrifices for freedom futile.

Traders called upon the governments of Pakistan and India to increase the items of trade from 21 which are being traded since the start of service.

“We demand the government of Pakistan and India to allow the traders of either side to meet every week at the Peace Bridge at Chakothi for the settlement of trade issues bilaterally and amicably,” said Ejaz Ahmed Mir, who was among the traders from Azad Kashmir, after the meeting.

“The meeting was very productive and fruitful in a way that traders have decided to stress their respective governments to facilitate the weekly meeting of traders at the LoC,” he said.

Trade and travel officer of Cross LoC Trade and Travel Authority (TATA) Mir Bashir Ahmed while addressing the ceremony held to mark the completion of two years of trade at the terminal of Chakothi said: “So far, 10,000 trucks have crossed into Indian Kashmir from here and 8,000 from there to Azad Kashmir.”

Ahmed said the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was striving to provide facilities for intra-Kashmir trade for which efforts are being made.

The first intra-Kashmir trade service was operated from Chakothi on October 21, 2009 and was suspended twice in the last two months due to the volatile situation of Kashmir since June this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2010.