India and Pakistan had agreed to open two points along LoC in J&K for facilitating traders of two parts of divided Kashmir to conduct trade and visits by people on either side. This decision, taken in 2008, was considered a helpful addition to a number of CBMs. Small beginning was made and things began to move though not at the desired pace. However, traders on both sides began cozying up to each other and the office bearers of Chambers of Commerce contributed their services and consultancy to boost the trade. Both sides drew a list of commodities that would be traded, their quality and quantum. Other modalities connected with trans-border trade were also taken into consideration. Security officers and senior officers of the Ministries of Commerce on either side also met and exchanged briefs.
Unfortunately, the process slowed down or came to a halt intermittently. There were some reasons. In the first place Pakistani Rangers stepped up repeated unprovoked firing along the LoC that vitiated the atmosphere. The purpose of their firing was to provide cover to the infiltrating jihadis at various points along the LoC. The second reason why trade and commerce slowed down along LoC was that a number of incidents happened in which Pakistani traders violated the rules of business. Either fake Indian currency was clandestinely smuggled in or drugs and other prohibited items were brought for trading. These were seized by the Indian security forces on our side of the line. More recently, the event of Indian security seizing a Pakistani truckload of narcotics across Salamabad was retaliated by Pakistan detaining our truck drivers for no reason whatsoever. Finally this row was overcome.
It appears that the Union Home Ministry is inclined to revisit the entire process of cross border trade along two points in J&K, namely Salamabad in Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch. A high power team of the Home Ministry held detailed consultations with the State Government representatives in Srinagar and focused on almost all important issues connected with the difficulties in the way of smooth conduct of trade. Almost all issues were discussed including providing full body truck scanners, banking facilities, adding more items to the trading list, streamlining communication, enhancement of cash carried by the passengers on their persons during visit and many more things. The State government will send in various proposals connected with cross- LoC trade to the Union Home Ministry and these will be taken up with Pakistan Government through formal process.
We welcome the intentions of the Union Home Ministry in promoting trade across the LoC in J&K and providing all facilities that contribute to the process of CBMs. It is appreciable that banking, communication, transit and other facilities will be provided and the result will be that trade between the two parts increases manifold. There should be more interaction between the people on two sides. Traders on both sides have been stressing upon respective governments to raise the standard of trade and commerce to the norms that are observed in international trading activity. There is great potential in the cross border trading exercise and we should make the best of it.
However all said and done, we have to remind our friends across the LoC that essentially the purpose of opening the two trading points is to support and promote mutual confidence building measures. The two sides should move away from hostile politics and create an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. Pakistani side should understand that they cannot use the cross-LoC check points for clandestine activities like carrying drugs or fake Indian currency notes or forbidden commodities. They have to realize that India-Pakistan relations are very sensitive and they should do nothing that would bring these under strain. Pakistani side of Chamber of Commerce shall have to understand that there are elements in Pakistan who are not happy on India-Pakistan relations moving towards normalcy. These elements would very much want to misuse the opportunity and bring about a breakdown in the process. Therefore, the primary condition is that there has to be a very clean and clear intention on the part of traders from PoK side that they are doing a historic duty of supporting return of normalcy in relations between the two hostile countries. As far as Indian side is concerned, we would like that in the first place all logistics are provided to make the trading along LoC viable and productive. Secondly, unnecessary harassment of traders and visitors should be avoided and if there are some obstacles, these should be overcome through mutual understanding. We would propose that security and commerce officers on both sides should meet regularly, at least once in a fortnight, to take stock of things and note if there is any discrepancy or difficulty which needs to be attended to so as to make flow of trade and transit easy and smooth.
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