Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 2: Cross-LoC trade between two parts of the divided State that resumed this week after about three weeks halt on Poonch-Rawlakote route stood at Rs 2.74 crore with a total of 53 trucks exchanging sides at Chakan-Da-Bagh.
The trade was suspended on January 10 with Pakistan authorities refusing to open gates after the killing of two Indian Army jawans by Pakistani troops on January 8 at Mankote in Poonch sector.
Cross-LoC bus and trade and Poonch-Rawlakote route were resumed this week after remaining suspended for two and three week respectively.
Official sources said items worth Rs 2.22 crore were imported by the traders from this part of divided State from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) during four days of weekly trade (Tuesday to Friday). As against Rs 2.22 crore worth imports, the traders exported items worth only Rs 52.56 lakh during four days.
Imports on Tuesday were valued at Rs 31.93 lakh followed by Rs 33.95 lakh on Wednesday. They rose to Rs 1.07 crore on Thursday and stood at Rs 49.55 crore on Friday.
Exports from this side were zero on Tuesday, Rs 15.83 lakh on Wednesday, Rs 14.24 lakh on Thursday and Rs 22.49 lakh on Friday.
On Tuesday, no truck had crossed over to PoK from this side while five trucks went to other side of the LoC on Wednesday, seven on Thursday and 10 on Friday.
From PoK, six trucks each came to Poonch on Tuesday and Wednesday while the number went up to eight on Thursday and 11 on Friday.
Sources said one empty and one live bullet of AK-47 were recovered from a truck that had come from Hajeera, Rawlakote in PoK. The bullet had been mixed in the almonds. However, the authorities on this side detected them during scanning. The truck was allowed to return to PoK.
Identity of the trader, who had imported the almonds from PoK and the one who had to receive it on this side, has been ascertained. The trader would be quizzed. Before the trade was stopped, the authorities had seized few bullets mixed with almonds.
PJ Singh, Trade Facilitation Officer (TFO), Poonch represented this side at Chakan-Da-Bagh during four days trade while Aslam Qayani, TFO represented PoK.
Cross-LoC bus had also resumed this Monday after remaining suspended for two weeks on Poonch-Rawlakote route.
The visitors of cross-LoC bus and the traders were confident that the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan would carry on.
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