Cross LoC trade resumes after week’s standoff

Jammu/Srinagar, Feb 12 (IANS) Vehicles carrying goods from India and Pakistan crossed the Line of Control on Thursday, as trade between the Indian and Pakistan administered parts of Jammu and Kashmir resumed after a week.

"The cross LoC trade resumed today (Thursday) after its suspension last week. Twenty-five vehicles carrying goods went from our side (India) through the Chakan Da Bagh crossing point in Poonch district, while seven vehicles came here from Pakistan," an official supervising the trade told IANS in Jammu.

While 15 vehicles carrying bananas went from the Salamabad trade facilitation centre in Baramulla district to Chakoti near Muzaffarabad after crossing the Aman Setu Bridge, no trade vehicle came from Pakistan, he said.

The standoff began last week when authorities in Salamabad near the border town of Uri seized 307 packets of narcotics hidden in 97 boxes containing oranges in a truck that had come to Salamabad from Chakoti.

The driver — identified as Inayat Hussain — was detained for questioning while his vehicle was also seized.

Three local traders in Baramulla, who were the consignees of the goods in the vehicle, were also arrested.

All 22 trucks that had come to Salamabad from Pakistan on that day were not allowed to return.

In retaliation, Pakistani authorities detained 50 vehicles that had gone to Chakoti with trade goods, that resulted in the standoff.

Following the stalemate, Pakistani authorities also cancelled the operation of the cross LoC bus service between the two regions last week.

After extended deliberations between trade authorities of both sides, the standoff was resolved Wednesday evening and 21 trucks (except the one seized) were allowed to go back to Chakoti from Salamabad.

Pakistan also allowed all 50 vehicles detained in Chakoti to come back to India Wednesday evening.

All the vehicles from both sides crossed the LoC around 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The cross LoC bus service is expected to resume from Monday, authorities told IANS.