Srinagar: The cross-border trade through Uri-Chakoti corridor that was suspended two weeks ago after the Jammu & Kashmir police had seized a consignment of narcotics from a truck coming from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on July 21, will resume next week, officials said on Thursday.
The truck service at Chakan da Bagh, the other crossing-point along the 745-km-long de facto border in Poonch-Rawlakote area of Jam-mu region, which faced problems due to ceasefire violations is also likely to be run smoothly now, the officials added.
The Jammu and Kashmir officials on Thursday met with their counterparts from the PoK at “Zero Point” near Kaman Post of the LoC in Uri.
“It was decided that the trade which was stalled would be started again next week,” as per an official announcement. It added several other decisions were taken to streamline trade and prevent such incidents in future.
“During the meeting Dr. Nasir Ahmad Naqash, the deputy commissioner of Baramulla, stressed upon director general, Travel and Trade Authority of PoK, Shahid Ahmad for carrying out trade in a transparent manner and ensuring stringent checks on the traded items,” a statement said.
Last week, as per media reports, the NIA recommended the closure of the cross-LoC trade after gathering “evidence” that the trade between the two parts of divided Kashmir was being misused to fund terrorists.
Reacting, J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said, “The ruling party will not allow closure of cross-border trade. We must work for opening more trade routes across the de facto border.”
The PoK officials agreed 116 PoK citizens stranded here will be allowed to return via Kaman Post through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus service,” the statement said. They will now meet at the “Zero Point” on a monthly basis so that the issues rarising from time to time are sorted out. Also the officials decided that traders’ meeting will be organized on quarterly basis to streamline trade.
