By NNN-APP
New Delhi : Indian Union Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh said trade across the Line of Control would start soon as the list of items has been exchanged between India and Pakistan.
The Indian daily, The Hindu quoted him as saying on Monday “New Delhi was waiting for response from Islamabad in this regard.”
The Commerce Minister after a three-day visit to Indian Occupied Kashmir said “Our Foreign Secretary has taken up the issue with Pakistan afresh after the lists of proposed items were exchanged.
He stated that headway has been made in the process as the last talks between both the countries held about four weeks back in New Delhi were seen as a major breakthrough.
The daily further said the items proposed by India for trade include carpets, rugs, wall hangings, paper mache, Kashmiri woollen products, furniture, Kashmiri fruits, spices, flowers, Kashmiri saffron and Kashmiri Wazwan.
From the Pakistani side, the list includes spices, apples, walnut, rice, precious stones, gabbas, furniture, marble, onion, garlic, and medicinal herbs.
The Minister who also visited LoC in Hundarman area in Kargil on Sunday said “I feel that people in Kargil want trade across the LoC but first the bus service between Kargil and Skardu.”
“The LoC trade will be the biggest Confidence Building Measure to strengthen the process of peace and reconciliation between the two countries,” the Minister said.