After remaining suspended for eight days in the wake ofIndo-Pak hostilities, the cross-LoC trade resumed on Tuesday via Srinagar-Muzaffarabad.
The trade was suspended last Tuesday after tension betweenIndia and Pakistan escalated following the aerial strikes by India in Balakotarea of Pakistan and cross-LoC shelling. However, the trade had continued for aday after the Indian strike.
Hilal Turkie, chairman, cross-LoC traders’ union of Kashmirtold Greater Kashmir that the trade resumed today.
“As the situation has improved, we decided to start thetrade again. On Tuesday, 35 trucks left from here for the other side, while 34trucks laden with edibles, goods and embroidered accessories were received,”Turkey said.
Turkey said the edibles including chilli seed, bananas,garlic and even embroidery items were despatched across the LoC. “The potatoes,kenu and dry fruits in large quantity were received from PaK.”
As per Turkie, the trucks loaded with ‘tradable’ items werewaiting from both the sides to cross the LoC for last several days. “We havealready started moving the trucks that were loaded with goods at the SalamabadTrade facilitation Centre,” he said
On the last Tuesday, at least 119 truckloads of fresh anddry fruits were traded between J&K and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Meanwhile, trade along Chakan-da-Bagh continued non-stopdespite the cross-LoC tension.
The cross-LoC trade, which started in 2008, is beingconducted through Salamabad in Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch, and has beendubbed as an important confidence building measure (CBM).
The cross-LoC trade is conducted four days a week fromTuesday to Friday, while the travel is permitted once a week.
The cross-LoC trade completed its ten years last October.