Halting business unfortunate, says Mirwaiz

Srinagar, April 19

Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday termed the Central government’s decision to suspend the cross-LoC trade “extremely unfortunate” and said such measures for “short-term gains” come at a huge price for people.

Hardening its stand against Pakistan, India on Thursday indefinitely suspended the cross-LoC trade at two points along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir effective Friday, following reports that it was being “misused” by elements from across the border to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency.

“Extremely unfortunate that Government of India instead of enhancing people-to-people contact as families of both sides of the LoC stands divided. Moreover, improving trade and other ties, even whatever little had been achieved since (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee time is being blocked and stopped. Such measures for short-term gains come at a huge price for people,” Mirwaiz tweeted.

In an official statement, the Union Home Ministry said orders had been issued for halting the trade at the Salamabad of Baramulla in the Kashmir region and Chakan da Bagh of Poonch district in the Jammu region, after reports of large-scale “misuse” of the cross-LoC trade.

Immediately after the announcement, the political parties in J&K termed it an “election gimmick”. — PTI

Extremely unfortunate that the Government of India is not enhancing people-to-people contact as families on both sides of the LoC stand divided. Moreover, improving trade and other ties, even whatever little had been achieved since (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee time, is being blocked and stopped. Such measures for short-term gains come at a huge price for people. —Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Separatist Leader