The philosophy of confidence building measures (CBMs) is a recognized concept enshrined in the desk book rules of international political relationship. Sooner or later, two hostility-ridden neighbours need to come to negotiating table and iron out their differences. Only negotiated settlement of issues can ensure lasting peace and normalcy of relationship.
Indian State has always been conscious of this eternal truth and, therefore, has been trying to adhere to the principle as faithfully as she can. But the case of dealing with a recalcitrant neighbour, namely Pakistan, is different and of complicated background.
Cross border trade from two points in J&K with PoK was a proposition strongly recommended by the interlocutors engaged in Track II diplomacy between India and Pakistan. But there were many, including opinion makers and observers, who had reservations in accepting cross-LoC trade as a positive measure of straightening relations with Pakistan. Their main objection emanated from ground realities in PoK and Pakistan where its rabid anti-India intelligence agency created large network of raising, supporting and abetting terrorism in the Indian part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. In the initial sages, the Pakistani super intelligence outfit provided funds to the terrorists who were prompted to sneak into Kashmir side and unleash mayhem. Essentially the funding came from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries, albeit through the ISI channel. More than two decades have passed by and the jihadis are not anywhere near their objective in Kashmir; the ISI has closed its fist and, by and large jihadis are left to fend for themselves.
The jihadis and their mentors across the border adopted various methods called self generating jihad economy. It comprises hawala transactions, drug money, arms smuggling money, circulation of fake currency notes and many more means. It is many years that our police and enforcement department have unearthed big rackets of clandestine money inflows as well as effected seizure of unauthorised goods in the course of transactions at Salamabad and Chakan da Bagh. Live cartridges, satellite phones, SIM cards, and lately 114 kg of brown sugar worth about 100 crore rupees have been seized by our Customs/Excise officers and the place on duty. What was the purpose of so-called traders from POK (or Pakistan) in smuggling these items that are directly connected with security matters of our state? For PoK, the cross-LoC trade is only a cover and smokescreen behind which they are continuing their mission of bolstering jihadi movement in Kashmir. Pakistan/PoK is least concerned with honest and fair trade transactions with India which, according to policy planners could have been a turning point in building atmosphere conducive to normalization of relations between the two countries.
Therefore the question of installing requisite infrastructure at two identified check posts including the full body scanner for trucks loaded with merchandise has to be evaluated from a different angle. Installing the huge and expensive machines does not preclude the designs of mischief mongers to bring in objectionable material to our side. This may not be the tip of the iceberg but nevertheless the dimensions of fraudulent trade carried out at the two cross-LoC check posts of Chakan da Bagh in Poonch and Salamabad in Uri are very threatening and should be addressed before a step is taken to streamlining infrastructural availability.
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