SRINAGAR: Trade between Indian and Pakistani Kashmirs has resumed fully, ending a 20-day halt sparked by deadly army clashes earlier this month.
The cross-border peace bus service resumed on Monday.
Six trucks carrying Pakistani goods crossed into the Indian side through Titrinot crossing which leads to the Chakan-Da-Bagh point in Poonch district of Jammu region, the AFP reported from Muzaffarabad.
The convoy, carrying onions, dates and dried fruits, crossed the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, shortly before midday Tuesday.
A second point in Kashmir valley, at Uri, remained open even after the clashes broke out on Jan 6, the worst since India and Pakistan agreed to a truce in 2003.
Cross-border trade and travel has been encouraged in recent years as a means to improve relations between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought two wars over Kashmir.
Traders in both the sides say the recent disturbances caused huge losses, millions in currencies of both the countries.
“We are always at risk that our business will suffer whenever tension starts on LoC. We are doing this business at our own risk as we don’t have any guarantee from the authorities,” a trader said.
The recent clashes had prompted fears that tensions between the two countries could escalate, but a ceasefire agreement on 16 January between commanders from both armies has held.
