Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 14: A much awaited cross LoC traders’ meet, for resolving pending payment related disputes of the traders on both sides of the Line of Control, is being held after the lapse of nearly 14 months at Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point on May 20, 2014.
This meeting, which is supposed to be held after three months (every quarter of the financial year) as agreed by both the Governments of Pakistan and India, could not be held in last 14 months due to some bitterness in the relations between both the countries after the incidents of beheading of two Indian soldiers in January 2013 in Mendhar area of Poonch, again killings of our five jawans at the LoC near Kahri Karmara in the same sector in August last year and detention of PoK driver after recovery of narcotics in Uri in the recent past.
Official sources said that the traders on both the sides were mounting pressure on their respective Governments to initiate process for holding early dialogue as their huge payments were pending and trade related disputes had widened. They were also threatening to suspend trade if their disputes were not settled with their counterparts as they were running huge financial losses. Both the Governments took up the issue at the highest level including Ministry of External Affairs, Home Affairs and Trade and Commerce and then gave its nod for holding this crucial meeting at 11.30 am (Indian Standard Time) at Chakkan-Da-Bagh LoC point in district Poonch on next Tuesday (May 20).
From Indian side Deputy Commissioner, Poonch Sajjad Ahmed Khan will lead the delegation of the traders while the Trade Facilitation Officer Bashir Lone will assist. A representative from Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu is also likely to participate in the meeting besides the office bearers of Cross LoC Traders Association, Poonch. About 25 to 30 traders from Poonch claimed to have payments related disputes with their PoK counterparts and they have been included in the list being prepared by the authorities.
Trade Facilitation Officer (TFO), Bashir Ahmed Lone (Custodian Poonch) when asked why delay was caused in holding this meeting, which was scheduled to be held after every quarter of the year, clarified that after the incidents of killings of Indian soldiers on the LoC in Mendhar area, some bitterness was developed in the relations on both the sides. The relations were also affected after a PoK driver was detained by the Indian authorities after the recovery of narcotics in a truck at Uri. It was followed by detention of over 50 drivers on both the sides. Therefore, the LoC trade and even the travel also remained suspended for weeks together. Therefore, the relations on both the sides were affected and the meeting could not take place for months.
Replying to another question, Mr Lone said the traders associated with cross LoC business, on this side were exerting pressure to hold meeting as many disputes related to payments had been developed with the passage of long time. Their huge money had been blocked. Some issues pertained to the poor quality of tradable items supplied by their counterparts. In the absence of telephone and meeting facilities, they were facing problems and were now threatening to suspend trade which had gone to lowest ebb in the recent past. Under these circumstances, the matter was taken up with higher authorities in the State Government and also in Delhi. The Government as a part of its CBM, has now decided to hold this meeting on May 20. The list of traders was being prepared and the Government would facilitate their meeting at the Chakkan-da-Bagh cross LoC point.
Dy Commissioner Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan when contacted said no doubt this meeting is supposed to the held after three months but it could not be held for more than one year in the past. The reason behind is known to all as it could not be held due to some unfortunate and ugly developments along the LoC in Mendhar sector. The traders involved in cross LoC trade were suffering due to this. They met him many times and requested to initiate process for holding a meeting to clear pending accounts with their counterparts in Pak occupied Kashmir. Subsequently, the issue was taken with the authorities in New Delhi and then officials on both the sides at highest level, talked and finally agreed to hold this meeting.
” It will be our utmost initiative to hold next meeting in three months as traders suffer for want of settlement of their pending accounts. Besides payment related issues, the matter related to tradable items will also be discussed with the DG Trade from Pakistan who is also attending the meeting on May 20. A communication from that side has already been received and the officials connected with the Cross LoC trade are already working on it. The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also been conveyed about this meeting. Some members may also join this meeting. The representatives from Cross LoC Traders Association from Poonch-Rajouri and Muzaffarabad (PoK) are also likely to meet there. The authorities at Immigration and Trade Facilitation Centre have been asked to make arrangements for the smooth conduct of meeting on next Tuesday,” the DC maintained.
Pawan Anand, from Cross LoC Traders Association Poonch said that huge payments of the traders have been blocked in view of some disputes developed with their counterparts in PoK. The traders were frustrated over this. Due to strained relations on both sides in the past some time, about four meetings could not be held. The traders were finding it difficult to maintain trade under such circumstances and requested the authorities to help them. He expressed his happiness over the conduct of meeting and stressed that in future such meetings be held in time.
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