Intra-Kashmir trade remains suspended for fourth day

MUZAFFARABAD: The Intra-Kashmir trade route at the Chakothi crossing point remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

Trade was suspended when a truck from Azad Kashmir was stopped by Indian authorities allegedly said to be carrying contraband.

On Sunday in an interview with AFP, Basharat Iqbal, trade facilitation officer on the Pakistani side of the border said: “We were informed by the Indian authorities on Friday evening that they have stopped 22 Pakistani trucks which crossed the Line of Control (LOC) earlier that day."

"They told us that they had discovered 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of opium from a truck carrying oranges and were taking an action against the driver. After the incident, we also held 50 Indian trucks on Pakistani Kashmir side, because traffic crosses the border simultaneously," said Iqbal.

Imtiaz Wayen, director-general of Pakistani Kashmir´s trade and travel authority, said India was not entitled to stop Pakistani drivers on grounds of smuggling.

"According to our agreement, if they find any banned item in our trucks they are bound to hand over that item and the relevant truck driver to us for further action," he said.

"We have informed the officials of the ministry of foreign affairs about this matter and have asked them to take up this issue," he added.