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| Border trade runs through fears of imminent barriers | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 5: As the verbal acrobatics get shriller between India and Pakistan, the trans-Line of Control trade between two parts of Jammu and Kashmir and other forms of trade between two countries is running under the threat of breakdown and euphoria of strengthening relations is fast coming down.
“We had very little scope of trading through LoC but had all our hopes pinned on Suchetgarh-Sialkote road which now appears bleak”, said a trader in Jammu who agreed that trade via International Border could have been big boost for economy of the region. Opening Suchetgarh-Sialkote route for trade between Jammu and Pakistan occupied Kashmir was one of the major Confidence Building Measures on which discussions were underway but Mumbai terror attack has derailed the entire process.
The traders are now keeping their fingers crossed since they apprehend the recently revived cross border trade between Indian Kashmir and Pakistan occupued Kashmir could receive a severe blow due to the tense relations between the two countries. "If this trade is stopped, we will be badly affected. If a war takes place between India and Pakistan, it will leave an adverse impact on poor people," said Sultan Pervez, a trader in Srinagar.
Keeping this aspect in view, the traders have appealed to both the countries to maintain peace and cooperate with each other to fight the terror suspects of Mumbai attacks. "We hope that the leadership of both the countries make a decision after careful thought. LoC trade between both the countries should continue although we're apprehensive looking at the present situation," said Bashir Ahmed, president, Fruit Growers Association, Kashmir.
Meanwhile, with India-Pakistan relations touching a new low after terror attacks on Mumbai, bilateral exchange of trade and ministerial delegations as a part of the political composite dialogue has been put off indefinitely.
Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh who was to visit Islamabad and Karachi either in the first or second week of January, has "more or less" cancelled the tour. India had earlier given two sets of date for Ramesh's visit which was to take place before the secretary-level talks. "It was either January 5-9 or 13th onward," Ramesh said in New Delhi today.
While the Commerce Ministry would be approaching the Ministry of External Affairs on the issue, an agency report quoted an official as saying, "I don't think the MEA would give a go-ahead for the next few months." Besides, the commerce secretary-level talks which were due in Islamabad are in a jeopardy. "Things are in the hands of MEA now," the official said.
Several trade opening issues had been discussed in the previous rounds of talks. India has blamed Pakistani elements for the terror attacks on Mumbai last week which took over 200 lives and held the financial capital of India to ransom for over three days.
New Delhi was engaged in modernising the customs clearance facilities at the Wagah border. A 140-acre warehouse on this border was also planned.
It was only a few months ago that the two countries opened trade across the Line of Control in Kashmir.
The bilateral trade in 2007-08 was 1.67 billion dollars, which jumped substantially from 869 million dollars in the previous year thanks to improvement in relations.
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