New Delhi:
Calling the trade across Line of Control a “confidence building measure” Pakistan on Thursday condemned its unilateral suspension. Pakistan expressed hope that the trade is resumed soon between the two nations. India last week indefinitely suspended cross-LoC trade at two points along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, following reports that it was being “misused” by elements from across the border to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency.
The trade was halted at Salamabad of Baramulla in Kashmir region, and Chakkan-da-Bagh of Poonch district in Jammu region.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal condemned the unilateral suspension of the trade by India and said, “We hope that trade is resumed soon, as it is a confidence building measure between the two countries.”
Earlier, an official had said at least 10 militants, who had crossed over to Pakistan, set up businesses across the border with the active aid of ISI and were involved in the recently suspended cross LoC trade to provide funds to terrorists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir.
These Jammu and Kashmir natives are either based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan or Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and operating businesses ranging from almonds, dry dates, dry fruits to mangoes as part of the modus operandi to send money to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, they had said.
"These 10 militants were using the cross LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and PoK to fund terrorists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir," a senior security official had said.
