It is not the first time that narcotics have been seized from a truck coming from PoK at Salamabad cross LoC trading point. At least three or four times in the past ever since the opening of the trading point, PoK trucks loaded with narcotics, drugs and other unauthorized commodities have been seized and proper action taken. This time about 66.5 kilograms of narcotics cocaine or heroin have been seized by our police from a truck that was bound for entering the Valley. Baramulla police have lodged an FIR, the driver has been detained for interrogation and as a result of breach of rules, entire traffic on both sides of the LoC at Salamabad has been halted.
Indian media has at many times expressed doubts about PoK truckers playing some mischief and dirty game. Investigation is going on and there are hints that huge quantity of drugs which is likely to fetch 300 crore rupees in open market were meant to be passed on to the terrorists in Kashmir to refurbish their sagging funding after the Government of India devalued 500 and 1000 rupee notes. Previously fake currency notes were also seized from incoming trucks. The attempt of smuggling narcotics in such a large quantity poses a question for those who are ardently supporting the idea of opening more cross-LoC trading points along the border in J&K. We are told that in all a caravan of 43 trucks from PoK were to cross into the valley at Salamabad when the police on a tip off began the search and found about 300 packets of narcotics hidden in specially made cavities of a truck. The driver has expressed his ignorance and passed the buck on to the owner of the truck and loading agencies. However, the police have got the name and address of the sender as well as the recipient, which in all probability may be fake and not true.
As already said in the past at least three or four times seizure of unauthorized goods has taken place. We have not heard so far that the PoK or Pakistan Government has taken any serious note of such irregularities and brought the culprits to book. And when authorities on our side take legal action against the PoK national indulging in such illegal acts, Pakistan retaliates by arresting Indian truck drivers and registering a false case against them as a retaliatory measure. We have no doubt in our mind that it is the handiwork of ISI who is frantically trying to induct money into Kashmir insurgency. ISI has created moles among PoK businessmen and they are entrusted with the task of transporting narcotics, Indian currency and perhaps messages for the traitors in the valley. The MEA has to take a serious note of this entire episode and evolve a mechanism that prevents PoK merchants falling in the trap of ISI. There could be a few suggestions to ensure no illegal transactions take place. In the first place there should be a law that stipulates severe punishment like 14 years life imprisonment for transshipment of narcotics of any kind, or fake currency or any other material that would help spreading and strengthening insurgency in the valley. Secondly, there should be a mechanism of a responsible central authority issuing certificate to each caravan supposed to cross the trading points at Salamabad or Chakan-da-Bagh that the contents of specific number of trucks crossing on particular dates carrying unauthorized or illegal goods. This means that both sides should agree to establish such an authority on either side. Rules should be framed what punishment has to be given to the defaulters.
We will not recommend cancellation of cross-LoC trade, a mechanism that has been started way back in 2008. Indeed the quantum of trade has increased manifold and there are signs that more expansion of trade is possible in future provided both sides believe in fair deal. We should try to plug the loopholes and not cancel the exercise.
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