Cross LoC trade to resume Thursday

Trade across the Line of Control (LoC) between the Indian and Pakistani parts of Jammu and Kashmir will resume Thursday, after authorities of the two sides resolved the stalemate that followed the recovery of narcotics from a truck that had come to India from Pakistan.

"After discussions between the trade authorities of the two sides, it was decided today (Wednesday) that routine trade between the Indian and Pakistani parts of the state will be resumed tomorrow (Thursday)," an official supervising the cross LoC trade told IANS here.

Reports said 50 trucks detained by Pakistan and 21 trucks detained by India were being allowed to proceed to their respective destination across the LoC.

"After a goodwill dinner with the Baramulla district magistrate today (Wednesday), drivers of Muzaffarabad trucks would cross the LoC," another official told IANS from Baramulla district.

Authorities at the Salamabad trade facilitation centre near the Uri border town in Baramulla district had Friday seized 307 packets of narcotics weighting 12 kg hidden in 97 orange boxes in a truck that had come from Chakoti trade centre in Muzaffarabad.

The driver was detained by the authorities in Baramulla district for questioning, while three local traders who were the consignees of the consignment were also arrested.

In retaliation, Pakistani authorities detained all 50 trucks that had gone to Chakoti with trade goods Friday.

Following the impasse, the operation of the cross LoC bus service between India and Pakistan in Poonch and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir was also suspended.

"Now that the impasse has been resolved, the operation of the bus service will also resume next week," an official told IANS.