Despite soldiers’ killing, trade through India-Pak border normal

Trade and other activity between India and Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah land route border remained normal Thursday despite heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The trade of goods from both countries was “normal”, a customs official said here.

Trucks from both countries carried the goods, he added.

The movement of people from both sides was also normal Thursday.

“I crossed over on foot from Pakistan back to India Thursday afternoon. Things at the border check-post were quite normal. Other activity was also taking place normally,” said a member of the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).

In the evening, the ‘Retreat’ ceremony by troopers of both sides, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers, was also held normally.

Pakistan had not allowed Indian trucks to carry goods into its territory Thursday at Chakan-da-Bagh in the Poonch sector following the tension on the LoC.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani diplomat said Thursday that incidents like the killing of two Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir should not be allowed to sabotage bilateral trade.
“The foreign office of Pakistan has already given its reaction. We believe that these kinds of incidents should not be allowed to sabotage bilateral reconciliation,” said Naeem Anwar, minister (trade) in the high commission of Pakistan in India.

“I think both the countries are trying to reconcile things so this process should go on,” Anwar told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar, organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI).

Asked who were trying to sabotage the peace process between India and Pakistan, he said: “Whoever is the beneficiary of this tension. They would like incidents like this.”

“Best way is that the process of reconciliation should continue,” he added.

Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday said there was clear evidence that Pakistani troops were involved in the killing of two Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir in an “inhuman” manner.