By Mir Umar, Agence India Press,
Srinagar: The forum of traders in the Kashmir valley have suspended cross border trade with Muzafarabad in Pakistan through the Line of Control (LoC) for the past one week.
Speaking to the media persons at Srinagar on Sunday, a trader attributed this suspension to recent unrest in the valley.
“LoC trade was going on. The goods were being supplied. But it’s been closed from past two weeks. The trade, which had to take place on 13-14 July, was suspended from Pakistan’s side. They informed us that trade is suspended. So there was no trade. After that it had to take place on 20-21 July, but it was suspended from our side. As the situation in Kashmir was getting worse day by day, locals were dying; children were also dying, so we also thought that we would protest. Whole valley was shutdown, so we also decided to do strike,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a trader.
Earlier the trade was improving despite many hiccups, but recently Pakistan suspended the trade for one week.
The traders believe that the trade was getting thinner day-by-day.
President of Federation of Commerce & Industries of Kashmir, Shakeel Qalandar told Agence India Press that the present situation of Kashmir has given bad affect on LoC trade also, as there is no transportation facility on the roads how it is possible that people who are engaged with LoC trade will carry the goods.
As there is a trade activities for the past one month have been decreased as the situation was bad in the valley and finally it was suspended for one week. Earlier also it was almost suspended. If earlier 10 trucks used to go, now instead of 10 trucks only one or two trucks are going, then it means that the trade is almost suspended. 90 percent trade has been suspended because of the bad situation in the valley, he said.
The trade between the two parts of Kashmir started in 2008 after the demand of the Kashmiris for an alternative trade route for business purpose.
Another aim of the cross border trade was to initiate contact between people living in both the regions to maintain peace.