Home Secretary’s jaunt

Few days prior to his impending visit to Islamabad to continue bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart, the Home Secretary made a quick visit of two trading points opened on the LoC, one along Uri-Muzaffarbad and the second along Poonch-Rawlakot route. This signifies that trade between two parts of J&K State has assumed more importance in contributing to the improvement of bilateral relations between the two estranged countries. Trade began three years ago and kept on moving steadily despite some roadblocks. The beginning of this particular confidence building measure has been at snails pace; it was so designed because it was the first ever attempt of straightening relations between the two parts of the divided state. This experiment has not to be considered only in terms of the volume of trade and the money transacted; its impact on the mindset of people and the Government and its political fallout are of equal importance. In fact political implications were the main objectives that led to the espousal of trade relations.
The Home Secretary listened to a number of suggestions made by the concerned traders of how commercial activity between the two parts can be expanded and streamlined. At Chakan-da-Bagh, where he held important meetings with the traders and their organizations, and also with State Government officials, the Home Secretary spoke to the press as well and communicated his impressions of various aspects of trade across the LoC. Readers will find its details in the print media. But there are a few points that need to be highlighted in connection with Home Secretary’s impending visit to Pakistan.
About political aspect of his visit, he has said it openly that he would reiterate Government of India’s demand that Pakistan hand over 20 “most wanted criminals” to India including Hafiz Saeed, who India thinks, is directly involved in Mumbai attack. This is India’s long standing demand but Pakistan has stubbornly rejected it offering one or the other excuse. Nothing remarkable has happened in between that brings pressure on Pakistan to react otherwise to India’s renewed demand for extradition of these criminals. Therefore no positive response should be expected from Pakistan on this issue. Current internal political situation in Pakistan is too delicate and uncertain to vouch for any promise on the part of the Government to accede to this particular demand of New Delhi. However, it has become ritualistic for New Delhi to go on harping on the tune. That the US placed a heavy prize on the head of Hafiz Saeed for giving proof of his involvement with al-Qaeda should not bring any solace to India. The US Congress is discussing providing 2.5 billion dollars by way of aid to Pakistan. US-Pak relations are on a different strategic plan and India has no role in that.
Secondly, focusing on expansion and streamlining of trade across LoC is certainly of much importance to both sides. There is unmistakable indication that improved relations between the two parts of Kashmir will have soothing and stimulating effect on overall relationship between the two countries. If the people of PoK are able to obtain space eastward through trade, commerce, tourism, cultural activities etc. this will gradually erode their sense of having got sandwiched between two unfriendly environs. “Azad Kashmir” has never been really happy with Pak domination. In fact Islamabad has truncated it, and reduced it to a small north to south longish strip of land. Detachment of Gilgit-Baltistan engineered by the rulers in Islamabad has dealt a sever blow to everything that “AJK” stands for. More than half a million of its population left for western countries to work as labourers because work was not available at home. Most of them are settled in UK and have become prosperous with the passage of time. Their remittances back home are enormous but that money goes for the development of Pakistan and not their homeland. This is the sense of deprivation with them. Mangla dam was constructed with their money and its power is supplied to towns and villages in Punjab. They have all welcomed the opening of the trading points along LoC.
On Kashmir side, many families were divided in the aftermath of partition of 1947. There was and continues to be a genuine urge with the relatives to see their kith and kin. Apart from this there is also need to assuage what is often termed natural instinct among the people of the valley that they are no landlocked or one-tracked. They also want space to reduce the impact of what is called “alienation”. Therefore taking all these matters into account, it is a welcome move on the part of the Union Home and External Affairs Ministries to address all the difficulties impeding brisk trade between the two parts. Easing of visa regime, increasing frequency of trading days, enhancing the number of carriers, opening more viable trading points, conversion of barter to currency system, offering banking facilities and foolproof security against hawala transactions etc. are all negotiable issues. We hope that in his forthcoming meeting with his counterpart in Islamabad, the Home Secretary will be able to resolve all these issues to the entire satisfaction of the traders on both sides.

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