LoC traders meet in Tashkent, demand resumption of trade

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 26

Various traders’ bodies from either side of the Line of Control (LoC) met at ‘Jammu and Kashmir Cross-Line of Control Business Track-II’ in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where they urged India and Pakistan to view business separately from politics.

Regretting the ban on the cross-LoC trade, they batted for the opening of the LoC for travel of divided families and further allowing it for trade.

“The representatives of the Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry, associations and federations of the cross-LoC traders and independent entrepreneurs met in Tashkent from June 23 to 25. The meeting was facilitated by the Conciliation Resources as part of its support to the cross-LoC confidence-building measures. The participants were of the unanimous view that agreement on the opening of the LoC for travel of divided families and further allowing it for trade was a demonstration of the statesmanship of the leadership of India and Pakistan.... They asserted that businesses can be viewed separately from politics as in the case of India-Pakistan international trade, which has continued uninterruptedly despite many bilateral setbacks,” said Sheikh Gowher Ali, joint secretary general of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI).

He said the participants also called upon the J&K Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JKJCCI) — a consortium of the regional chambers in Srinagar, Jammu and Mirpur (in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) to closely work with the government authorities and the traders for early resumption of trade.

“President of the JKJCCI Rakesh Gupta, joint president Sheikh Ashiq and Sohail Shujjah (business leader from Mirpur) reiterated their commitment to liaise between the government authorities, traders and other stakeholders to ensure that the real intention behind the unique confidence-building measure is not lost,” he said.

The meeting was attended by KCCI president Sheikh Ashiq, Jammu Chamber vice-president Rakesh Gupta, ex-JKJCCI president Mubeen Shah and several representatives of traders from across the LoC.