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| KCCI asks India, Pak governments to redouble efforts; sort out cross LoC trade issue | | Proposes inclusion of traders on either side to sort out issue | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Feb 8: Taking a dig at the role of Indian and Pakistani governments for their alleged failure to restart trade between Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) has said that trade between two sides should not be held hostage to a solitary case of drug trafficking. KCC&I President, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad said that it is a grave concern that events unfolding after the drug trafficking case are not handled in an appropriate manner by authorities on either side of Line of Control. Ashiq said that governments of India and Pakistan should not waste any time further time and restart the cross LoC trade. "LoC trade is not a measure only for selling and buying of commodities and benefitting any particular community, group, organization or an individual but it has been a long desired big and bold step taken by the two countries. None other than Prime Minister of India flagged off a caravan of people to Muzaffarabad in 2005 and three years later in 2008 intra Kashmir trade links were restored," said Ashiq. Ashiq expressed his disappointment and resentment against the incompetence shown towards handling of the issue. He said the matters have been aggravated by the fact that lower rank officers on the either side have been authorized to take decisions that ideally should be expected to be taken by people assuming higher positions. "The incompetence on either side has emerged as a stumbling block in the trade cum peace process of the two nations.
The people of Kashmir have been looking up with high hopes to see the cross LoC trade progress by leaps and bounds. Contrary to the expectations trifle issues have hijacked the cross LoC trade. The process has been subjected to chucks and choking more particularly on Salamabad route," said KCC&I President. Ashiq said that cross LoC trade would have ushered an era of peace between India and Pakistan thus enabling them to live in complete harmony. He said the chamber has always been optimistic about the fruitful outcome expected of such a wedlock between the two countries and always believed that a seed of peace sown in the shape of intra Kashmir trade pact in 2008 shall sprout and grow into a large tree of fruition. "Innocent truck drivers are held up and stranded on either side of LoC by the respective authorities to see as remedy and punishment for the drug traffickers. The unconcerned passerby truck drivers are held up and starved aimlessly causing hardship and immense desperation to their families. Chambers of Commerce from both the sides of LOC should be made a part of the teams that are working out the resolution of the crises that has lead to suspension of the LOC trade," said KCC&I President. |
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