Kashmir’s trade connection with Central Asia was indirect,as the two sides had no common border. From the very beginning, traders, whoconducted small business in Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Skardu etc. werebypassing Leh and the valley of Kashmir used other mountainous tracks –Ferghana-Kashghar-Tashkurghan-Hunza-Gilgit, Bukhara-Kabul-Chitral-Peshawar, andFerghana-Pamirs-Chitral. As regards the importance of Indian trade with CentralAsia via the above-noted channels, it was considerably lesser in value thanwhat passed through Punjab-Afghanistan-Central Asia or the Bombay-Batum searoutes. The great mountain barriers of Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Kuen Lun andWestern Himalayas, there existed overland trade links between India and CentralAsia since ancient times which in turn exerted a strong influence on thesocio-economic developments in both the regions.
Kashmir, as separated on present-day maps, sits essentiallymost of the way alongside a gigantic geographic and social point of confinementthat reaches out from the Caspian Sea to northern Myanmar, and which throughhistory has disconnected south from central Asia. Cross LoC trade isolatedKashmir into two sections and shut the Jehlum valley course, the main passageand exit of the Kashmir Valley around then. This regional division, which rightup ’till today still exists, disjoined numerous towns and isolated relativesfrom one another. There is three primary intersection focuses on the LoC as ofnow operational like the Teetwal crossing is situated out and about amongMuzaffarabad and Baramulla. It is generally just open amid the mid-year monthsand rather than the other two intersections is open for an individual’s development,not for exchange. Salamabad crossing point is situated out and about amongChakothi and Uri in the Baramulla region of Jammu and Kashmir along the LoC.The name in English means “bridge of peace” is situated in Uri. It is a noteworthy course for cross LoCexchange and travel. Banking offices and exchange assistance focuses are beingmoved toward the Indian side. The extent and pattern of commercial exchangesthat took place between India and the Central Asian region of Bukhara, Kokand,and Turkestan (excluding Xinjiang region of China) through Kashmir and Ladakhduring the Dogra rule, i.e. from 1846 till 1947 when India became independentand started a new phase of relations with Central Asia free of past coloniallegacy.
The extension wasreconstructed by Indian armed force after the 2005 Kashmir seismic tremor whena mountain on the Pakistani side had collapsed. This course was opened forexchange in 2008 following a time of 61 years. The Srinagar–Muzaffarabad Busgoes through this extension on the LoC. Next one is a street associates Kotli and Tatrinote inPakistan-administered Kashmir side of the LoC to Poonch area of Jammu andKashmir through Chakan Da Bagh crossing point. It is a noteworthy course forcross LoC exchange and travel. Banking offices and exchange assistance arebeing moved toward the Indian side to serve dealers. The banner gatheringsamong Indian and Pakistani security powers are held here. These gatherings areheld at the outskirt or at stake of Control by leaders of the militaries of thetwo sides. A banner gathering can likewise be held at the brigadier-level onlittler issues. On the off chance that the gathering is on a bigger setting, itcould be held at the general dimension.
The Cross LoC Trade Legacy as a gift or a bequest, which ishanded down, endowed or conveyed from one side to the other side of dividedKashmir. It is something descendible one comes into possession of that istransmitted, inherited or received from a predecessor. It means a Deed forDevelopment and Provision of Processing Services for Fines and Judgment Debtsbetween India and Pakistan and the Cross LoC trade, as amended between twocountries. It gives you a perspective on what’s important for the KashmirValley. The Cross LoC trade exchange may have been utilized by certain brokersfor unlawful exercises was suspected throughout recently, it was to plug this that the state has beenarguing for the establishment of full truck scanners at different trade points.Similarly, it would into “worsen ties with Pakistan despite their peaceovertures”. Recently the union homeministry had, ordered the suspension of trade through both cross-LOC points,Poonch in Jammu and Uri- Baramulla in Kashmir, following reports of Pakistanbased elements misusing these routes to push in weapons, narcotics and fakecurrency. The Peace Legacy of the Vajpayee era may be changed into violence byindefinitely suspending the cross-LOC trade. Without a sense of cross LoC tradebetween India and Pakistan, peace and economy will lose in the valley. Beingreminded because it informs that the Cross LoC Trade Legacy is actually a goodthing for peace and economy of Kashmir. It is fundamental to what it is to becommon for both countries and is a gift by will especially for maintaining peaceor other economic condition in Kashmir. Therefore it is essential for both thecountries to restore peace and economy and to know how the suspension of CrossLoC Trade affects Peace and economy legacy of the Kashmir valley.
The author is a research scholar at Deptt of History andCulture of the Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi