SRINAGAR, July 30: Traders from both the divided parts of Kashmir say they have kept on hold their plans to suspend trade across the Line of Control to protest against impediments in the success of their business.
“We decided to postpone the suspending of the trade in view of holy month of Ramadan”, Hilal Turki, General Secretary of the Salamabad-Chakoti traders union said after attending a teleconference of the businessmen.
On Sunday, they decided to hold their protests until September when Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan meet in Islamabad.
Trade between the two parts of Kashmir was started in 2008 as part of a series of confidence building measures between India and Pakistan who have fought at least three wars over this scenic Himalayan region.
The trade was also expected to earn huge revenue.
Cross-LoC traders had, however, decided to suspend business with each other to protest against customs authorities who, they say, were creating unnecessary hurdles in the trading process by not following the Standard Operating Procedure.
“If the interference of custom authorities in the trade was not ended, there are apprehensions of the trade getting derailed”, Hilal Turki said.
Traders are also disappointed with the authorties for not moving ahead with improving facilities such as banking and communication issues.
