SRINAGAR : The cross Line of Control (LoC) trade between Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) suspended since January 17, is likely to resume later this week. This decision was taken between representatives of both the sides who met at Zero-point one th LoC at Kaman post in Uri sector this afternoon.
Both the sides agreed to resume the trade service from February 20.
The cross LoC trade was suspended when 114 brown sugar packets were recovered from a POK truck at Salamabad trade centre on January 17.
When the POK driver was arrested after the recovery, the authorities from other side of the LoC closed the gate at Kaman post and did not allow 27 Kashmiri drivers to leave. Similarly, 48 POK trucks also refused to leave Salamabad, demanding release of arrested driver. Trade was also suspended on Poonch-Rawlakote POK route.
This also resulted in suspension of Karvan-e-Aman bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, which later resumed after remaining suspended for two weeks after both the sides met four times.
POK were demanding handing over of POK driver, seized truck and brown sugar so that he (driver) could be prosecuted there. Later the matter was taken by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with Pakistan through its Embassy in New Delhi. However, no agreement was reached on resumption of trade, which was started in 2008 since 1947.
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