Click to play videoPoonch (Jammu): Angry businessmen protested at Indo-Pak trading post near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch. Traders from both countries blocked the crossing after an abrupt Government order barred all non-local goods from being sent across.
“If we consider the original certificate then we are left with only cherries and apples,” Trade Facilitating Officer Maslook Khan said.
Another local trader Mohammed Aamin said, “Who is going to pay for losses as high as Rs 1.5 crore. We will have to pay with our lives now.”
As the war of words between India and Pakistan over the 26/11 attack continues, trade is suffering.
“Indo-Pak tension has affected our LOC trade because our visa papers were not cleared by the Pakistan government,” President of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ram Sahai said.
Indo-Pak cross-border trade started in October last year. Ever since business has boomed to over Rs 25 crore but hiccups have always remained. For instance, India banned all garlic and ginger import from Pakistan saying their stock is infected
“Once they stopped Chinese garlic then they stopped ginger. Now they are planning to stop three-four items. With stoppage of these items business will go down,” Sahai said.
Another set back came when a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir traders cancelled their first visit to Pakistan due to security reasons.
The cross-border trade which was started after 61 years has been one of the most important confidence-building measures, but with wavering Indo-Pak ties this business route has not been all that smooth.
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