news details |
|
|
| Opening Jammu Sialkote route | | | | By rejecting twice Indian proposal to open Sojetgarh-Sialkote road to facilitate the visit of peoples from two countries as well as carrying on of trade between India and Pakistan through this route Pakistan has given yet another proof of its non seriousness in building confidence measures between the two peoples as well as promoting inter country trade. While Pakistan had been always keen to open five points on the LOC between two parts of Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate the meeting between the families separated since 1948 as well as for trade to take place between two parts of Kashmir, it has been dragging its feet from opening yet another point on the international border between India and Pakistan, with the cities and towns on two sides near the border thickly populated and hence highly valuable in respect of creating understanding and appreciation of each other's concerns. It also betrays the communal mindset of ruling leaders in Pakistan, who feel concerned for the longing among the Muslims into two parts along LOC to meet their separate kith and kin. The opening of Jammu-Sialkote sector would bring the Hindus of Jammu and Muslims of Sialkote and other places around about to come closer and understand the minds of each other. This could serve as the best confidence building measure between the people between two countries through easy visit to each other. While the villages along the LOC near the points which have since been opened are thinly populated, as a result of which the initial enthusiasm among the people on two sides has soon veined, with less and less number of people availing of the bus services running between two parts, the places along international border between R.S.Pura and Sialkote being thickly populated, opening of this route and running of bus service and latter restoration of train line between Jammu and Sialkote, which exited before 1947, could be of great value and importance. The opening of this route could lead to exchange of a very large number of people to each other's territory. It could also lead to trade flourishing between the two countries. The popular city of Sialkote in Pakistan is only at a distance of 40 kms from Jammu city, the winter capital of J&K state. Before partition of the country in 1947 people from two cities frequently visited each other, mostly through train, which would take several sorties daily. While citizens from Sialkote would come to Jammu in large numbers, particularly on Sundays to have excursion at Ranbir canal Jammu, the people of Jammu would visit Sialkote to watch new movies, which were screened at Sialkote much before, these would hit the only two cinema halls at Jammu. This was also a brisk trade route. The willos, raw material for manufacture of cricket bats from Kashmir would be transported from Jammu to Sialkote, while finished bats were imported to Jammu from Sialkote, along with other sports goods, the industry of which was localized at Sialkote. Similarly fruits, vegetables grown into two parts as well as many other products would have the hot trade. The opening of this route would highly facilitate the two peoples as well as bring economic prosperity among the people in both parts through trade. Pakistan will be well advised to reconsider the matter and give up negative approach on the matter. The Punjabis living on two parts of the I-B have many things in common, including their language, customs, heritage and memories. Their coming close to each other once again will be a great source of strengthening the bond of friendship between the two countries. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
