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| Let walls of division fall | | | | The City of Temples seems to be a changed town since Sunday afternoon. What is now being talked more among an influential section of society in Jammu is opening of all traditional routes with Pakistan administered Kashmir and easing travel restrictions to the extent that when someone desires to spend a day across the divide –to meet relatives, friends, have a business discussion or just a leisure trip –it should be as easy as traveling to any part of Jammu and Kashmir or India. The arrival of trade delegation from Pakistan administered Kashmir headed by Zulfikar Abbasi has removed many myths and brought people closer to many ground realities. People on both sides have common origin, common, language, common culture and nearly common thinking. What all requires to be put in place is a desire for a common road to a common destination. There is an equal urge on both sides and this can happen only when the walls of suspicion are brought down and people are allowed to mix up with each at their free will. For moving in this direction, trade with maximum facilities and minimum hassles can give a huge push to the mutually sustainable interests. A recent study, first of its kind on both sides of Line of Control says that the possibility of border trade being permitted at the five crossing points opened for earthquake relief is worth exploring for the convenience of people living on both sides of the LOC. Making an interesting observation for "border trade", which is different from normal bilateral trade, the study says that the roads that lead to these crossing points could be upgraded to permit truck traffic, assuming that such traffic is found to be commercially viable and official fears about smuggling can be overcome. Calling for re-opening of pilgrimage routes on all parts of J&K, including Ladakh and Northern Areas, the study also suggests the the establishment of rail links between Jammu and Sialkot, and between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad (and from there onward to Abbotabad and Rawalpindi). The cross-Line of Control travel has always been described as biggest Confidence Building Measure of the century and it is high time that the government of India and Pakistan expand the eligibility criteria to include other categories of travelers such as tourists, persons requiring medical treatment, traders, and even dissident political leaders. There is also a need to simplify permit procedure, through shortening the process of obtaining travel documentation. Four major areas of cooperation –promoting people-to-people contact; increasing trade and commerce across the LoC; encouraging humanitarian aid and development; and improving governance, including security administration –can ultimately dismantle the walls of suspicion and feelings of hostility and make South Asian region as a powerful block with India and Pakistan as key drivers of peace and economy and Jammu and Kashmir as a bridge of cooperation. |
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