Xinhua, Srinagar :
After more than three weeks of deadlock between India and Pakistan over the cross line-of-control (LoC) trade in Kashmir, the authorities on both sides Wednesday allowed the stranded drivers and trucks to ply to respective sides, officials said.
“Glad good sense has prevailed and drivers from both sides have crossed Kaman post to return home after weeks of the standoff over drugs,” the Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter.
The breakthrough was achieved after deliberations between External Affairs ministries of the two sides.
“The exchange of stranded trucks and drivers is a major step towards resuming the stalled trade,” Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Ghulam Ahmad Khawaja said. “Pakistani side also agreed not to insist on its demand for release of the arrested driver and his vehicle after the Indian side asserted that he will have to face the due course of law.”
Pakistan stopped the movement of trucks and buses between divided Kashmir following the arrest of a truck driver from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on Jan. 17 at Salamabad trade facilitation center in Uri town. Indian police said the driver was carrying narcotics worth 18.5 million U.S. dollars hidden in his truck.
The officials from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir reject Indian claim and demand release of the driver. They stopped more than 25 trucks from Indian-controlled Kashmir from returning back, besides halting cross LoC weekly bus service. Around 50 truckers from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir were also stuck on this side.
“The driver of the truck carrying the drugs to this side of the LoC continues to remain in police custody and the law will follow its course,” Abdullah tweeted.
The cross-LoC trade between the divided parts of Kashmir was started in 2008. The trade since then is going on barter pattern.
The trade takes place four times in a week through the Salamabad center in Uri and Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch, close to LoC.
At present only 21 listed items are traded which include fruits, vegetables, pulses and handicrafts.
The trade across LoC is a duty-free trade.
LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from British, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
