Cross border trade with PoK on while Pak still embargoed

Trade embargo against Pakistan post-Pulwama attack notwithstanding, the cross LoC (Line of Control) trade is continuing uninterruptedly on the both routes in the strife torn Jammu and Kashmir.

There are two cross LoC routes, Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir valley and Poonch-Rawalakote route in Jammu division, that are being used to ferry goods between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Every week cross LoC trade takes places for four days from Tuesday to Friday on both the routes.

"Thirty five trucks each carrying different items crossed into PoK on Thursday and Friday. From PoK, around 19 trucks entered into our side from Chakan da Bagh on Thursday. On Friday we are expecting 15 to 18 trucks to arrive from PoK. The trade was suspended only for one day", said Fareed Kohili, Custodian, Trade Facilitation Centre, Chakan da Bagh.

Similarly, there was no impact of Pulwama attack on the trade from Uri route. For the last four days around 35 trucks have crossed into PoK every day.

"Every day 35 trucks cross into the other side. There was no suspension. And there are no directions either to stop or suspend the trade", said Ghulam Ahmad, Custodian, Trade Facilitation Centre, Uri-Salamabad.

The Cross-LoC trade continued despite union government's decision to revoke Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan and increasing 200 percent import duties on the Pakistan goods following the Pulwama terror attack that left over 40 CRPF soldiers dead on February 14.

Started in October 2008, Cross-LoC trade was considered as mother of all confidence building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan. However, the trade could not grow beyond barter system. Lack of proper banking and communication facilities added to the woes of the traders.

More than 600 traders are registered for the cross LoC trade and 21 items are on the approved export and import list from both routes. Some of items to be traded include Rice, Carpets, Precious Stones Wall Hangings, Gabbas Shawls and Stoles, Namdas, Peshwari Leather Chappals, Medicinal Herbs Embroidered Items, Honey, dry and fresh fruits etc.

Official figures reveal that goods worth 1274.43 crore traded out and Rs 1093.39 crore were traded in from 2014-15 to 2016-17 from Uri-Salamabad cross LoC route. Similarly goods worth Rs 402.34 crore were traded out and Rs 662.78 were traded in from Chakan da Bagh crossing in Poonch from 2014-15 to 2016-17.