Cross LoC traders meet in Tashkent, seek restoration of intra-Kashmir trade

Various representatives of regional chambers of commerce and industry, associations and federations of cross-LoC traders and some independent entrepreneurs from Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-adminstered Kashmir met for ‘Jammu and Kashmir Cross-Line of Control Business Track II’ in Tashkent, Uzbekistan between June 23-25.

The meeting was facilitated by the Conciliation Resources aspart of its support to the Cross-LoC Confidence Building Measures since 2009,according to a statement issued by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce andIndustries (KCCI).

   

“The participants took a comprehensive view of the cross-LoCConfidence Building Measures initiated by the Governments of India and Pakistansince 2005,” read the statement. “They acknowledged the fact that various CBMslike trade and travel across LoC, in their limited scope, have contributed inbuilding trust and enhancing shared understanding between regions and communities.”

It also said thatparticipants were of the unanimous viewthat agreement on opening of the Line of Control for travel of divided familiesand further allowing it for trade was a demonstration of the statesmanship ofthe leadership of India and Pakistan.

The participants, particularly, the cross-LoC traders,according the statement, said that responding to the CBMs agreed by theGovernments of India and Pakistan, they sustained the cross-LoC trade with”emotional investment” despite severe financial risks and procedural andoperational difficulties.

“… they (traders) vehemently asserted that businesses can beviewed separately from politics as in the case of India-Pakistan InternationalTrade which has continued uninterruptedly despite many bilateral setbacks,” thestatement said.

“The participants called upon the Governments of India andPakistan to take a comprehensive review of the modalities and technicalmechanism to restore operation of Cross-LoC trade as early as possible. Theparticipating Cross-LoC traders and leaders of business chambers from bothsides of the divide assured their respective Governments of their full supportand assistance in putting the trade on modern and transparent lines to thebenefit of economic development and peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”

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