Cross-border trade resumes in Kashmir after 2 months

Cross-border trading resumed on Tuesday between the divided parts of Kashmir along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route after remaining suspended for nearly two months due to the unrest in the valley.

While a dozen loaded trucks reached Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) in Uri sector from this side, only one truck came from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said.

Trade between the divided parts of Kashmir was suspended on August 4 after Pakistani traders reportedly stayed away from work for a week initially, to protest civilian killings in the valley and express "solidarity with the people of Kashmir".

Twenty-one items, including eatables, garments and handicrafts, are traded on the twin routes — Srinagar-Muzaffarabad in Kashmir and Poonch-Rawalakote in Jammu — on which around 50 trucks ply for four days a week.

Trade between the divided parts of Kashmir is considered as the second major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) after the launch of historic bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad on April 7, 2005.

Although agreed upon by India and Pakistan in 2004, the trade became a reality on October 21, 2008.