Indian goods trucks parked outside the office of TATA in Chokothi sector, AJK along the Line of Control.
India summons Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner in connection with suspension of trans-border trade and bus services.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 21, 2014
India had detained a truck driver from Azad Kashmir for allegedly smuggling drugs in the garb of cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade.
As Pakistan demanded that the driver be released, India refused. Talks stalemated with Pakistan detaining 27 Indian truck drivers in Azad Kashmir in a tit-for-tat move, with Indian Kashmir officials detaining 48 more trucks from Pakistan.
On January 19, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Travel and Trade Authority (Tata) announced it would suspend the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus and Truck Service until India released the drivers.
Possibility of propaganda
Talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, 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.
On Monday, TATA wrote a letter to the Foreign Office asking them to take up the matter with Indian High Commission and Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi.
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.
The DG Tata added that Indians have failed to provide proof of drug smuggling so far.
COMMENTS (13)
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.. Indians keep playing politics with trade relations ... using underhand tactics ...
... Shut down all direct and indirect trade with India ... There are no fair mechanisms to manage and regulate it ... except quarrelling. Also do not open land route to Afghanistan ... Until Indian politicking stops ..
... Pakistan over last 50 years has expanded trade links with other countries and managed reasonably well ... It should continue expanding in those directions ...
@polpot:
India and Pakistan has trust deficit problem so if one file a charge than they have to give proof. The best thing would be both Indian and Pakistan custom officers should work at the loc so if anything happened both knows about it.
".... India summons Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner in connection with suspension of trans-border trade and bus services ..."
Looks like India is beginning to dictate what Pakistan can and can not do.
@Khurram Awan: Culture of entitlement is the reason. Question is how do retired/serving senior officers end up so rich In Pakistan? @Desi: BTW, John McCain flew combat missions for the US Navy, not the army!
Whoever heard of Drugs being exported from Pakistan? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Whoever?
The DG Tata added that Indians have failed to provide proof of drug smuggling so far. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistan has no valid claim whatsoever to any such proofs. Period.
@Khurram Awan: Do you know famous Colin Powell was a retired general, Bush presidents, John Kerry had served military. Recent retired pantagon boss was appointed defence secretary. John McCain had served in army as well.
Dude this happens all over the world. The discipline tought in army is not tought in civil institutions. Army is more patriotic than others like police or politicians, that's another reason to pick them. They retire earlier than civil servants, so to use their full life they should be picked up in civil jobs as well.
Give me any logical reasons, hate is not a logical reason.
What needs to be done is having a buffer zone between the border where both officials can do join check for contraband items ferrying through the border. This will bring some neutrality to the procedure and avoid such ego clashes which always ends up derailing the peace process. Our leaders only have will to talk peace but seriously bad at implementing them correctly.
For the time being, it would be in the best interest of India to stop all India-Pakistan trade through land route. Allowing this, we will see increased smuggling of drugs and explosives. It is better to trade through Dubai as the authorities there will carry out more effective checks. We all saw how large quantities of ephedrine was imported in Pakistan and none of those higher-ups who diverted it to manufacture illicit drugs were punished. In India also the drug dealers will be having connections in higher echelons. Allowing land route trade at this time when Pakistan is going through turmoil, will be inviting trouble for India. There will be accusations and counter accusations and no action will be taken. Pakistan will continue to protect the drug smugglers and It will only worsen the India-Pakistan relationship. Drug smuggling is the major source of financing terror activities and the benefits of restricted trade far outweigh the benefits of relaxations in bilateral trade. India should hold off until the situation in Pakistan improves.
Transporter Group is head by Director General (DG) Brig (retd) ,No wonder why they used the word propaganda and conspiracy theories. if caught its an Conspiracy otherwise we are smart..
I dont know what will be the outcome of this case will but one thing strucks me that even a TATA Director General is (DG) Brig (retd) Muhammad Ismail. Everywhere I see in Pakistan and it seems that our country is made for the Army Officers only. Now even Cinemas, Bakeries, Fertilizers, Housing Schemes, Schools, Clubs are being Administered by either in service or retired service members and i could not understand that Civilians are too much incapable or that is what Pakistan is all about?? Where is the professionalism of our forces?. Why Retired Officers in America and in developed world goes home after retierment but in our country at the end of the Service they became owners of big empires or get top notch spots?