Cross-LoC trade: Pakistan asked to pursue truck detention case

Tata asks FO to take up the matter with India at highest level.

MUZAFFARABAD:

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Travel and Trade Authority (Tata) on Monday wrote a letter to Foreign Office to take the issue of detention of 49 trucks with the government of India at highest level, sources told The Express Tribune.

The Indian authorities have held the 49 trucks of Azad Jammu and Kashmir while Tata in Azad Kashmir has stopped 27 trucks from Indian side since Friday. The authorities in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir accused them of smuggling drugs in the area, a charge rejected by the Tata officials. They termed it a ploy of India to defame Pakistan at international level and close the cross-LoC trade once and for all.

According to sources, the letter urges Pakistani authorities to take up the matter with Indian High Commission and Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi to ensure the safe return of 49 trucks and their drivers from the Indian held Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Indian Jammu and Kashmir police have registered an FIR against the AJK truck driver Muhammad Shafiq who was accused of smuggling the drugs.



When The Express Tribune contacted the Tata Director General Brigadier (retd) Muhmmad Ismail to comment on the development, he said that according to the Cross LoC trade agreement Indians have no right to lodge an FIR against any passenger, driver and trader and if Indians do it, that is the violation of Cross LoC trade agreement which is unacceptable to Tata.

The DG Tata added that Indians have failed to provide proof of drug smuggling so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2014.