Srinagar: The cross-LoC trade via Salamabad-Chakoti route is likely to resume tomorrow following fresh meeting between officials from both parts of Kashmir on Monday.
Official sources told GNS that Liaison Officer and Custodian of the trade, Showkat Ahmad from this part of the Kashmir held talks with Trade Facilitation Officer Basharat Ahmad from Pakistan Administered Kashmir wherein it was decided to resume the trade smoothly. The meeting continued for over an hour. “The meeting was held at Zero Point. It was decided that the trade will commence from Tuesday or Wednesday,” Liaison Officer, Showkat Ahmad told GNS. He said the matter regarding the full body scanners at the TFC for better scrutiny has already been taken up with the higher ups. Pertinently, on Feb 20, the cross LoC trade had failed to resume as the drivers in the Pakistan administered Kashmir (Pak) reiterated their demand for the release of the detained driver. On January 17, the trade between the two sides was suspended after Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a Pak driver Mohammad Shafiq Awan on charges of smuggling drugs into the Valley. To demand the driver’s release, the Pak officials detained 27 Kashmiri drivers for over 26 days. However, on February 12, the officials of both the sides agreed to allow the stranded drivers to return to their respective destinations ending the standoff. (GNS)