Despite tension, India-Pakistan trade, bus service continues

Despite the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, trade and bus service between both countries continued through the Attari-Wagah joint check post (JCP) on Friday.

The 'Sada-e-Sarhad' peace bus between Delhi and Lahore also plied on Friday with 15 passengers, all from Pakistan, travelled to Lahore.

The bus had its scheduled stop at the Punjab Tourism-run restaurant at Kartarpur, 15 km from Jalandhar city.

The bus is accompanied by pilot and escort police vehicles with armed security right through its 500-km journey from Delhi to Attari border.

On Friday, nearly 185 truck-loads of trade took place through the Integrated Check-post (ICP) at Attari-Wagah, said customs officials.

A total of 63 trucks from India crossed the land border route carrying vegetables, mainly tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices, while over 120 trucks from Pakistan entered India carrying dry dates, gypsum, cement and salt.

Out of the $2.6 bn trade between India and Pakistan, out of which Indian exports are worth nearly $2.2 bn, only a small percentage of trade takes place through the Attari-Wagah land route. The rest of the trade takes place through the sea route via Dubai.

Tension between both countries escalated on Thursday after Indian Army carried out surgical strikes near the Line of Control (LoC) to neutralise terrorist launch-pads in the Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

--IANS

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