MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Kashmir’s Finance Minister, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, has accused India of conspiring to wind up intra-Kashmir trade. “We are not averse to the intra-Kashmir trade… In fact the bus service and trade are paving way for resolution of the core issue of Kashmir,” he said during a visit to the Chakothi Trade and Travel Facilitation Centre, some 60km south of here, on Wednesday.

Mr Akbar, who is also secretary general of the ruling People’s Party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, met the 27 drivers from India-held Kashmir who have been stranded here following a standoff since Jan 17 when India alleged that it had seized 114 packets of heroin from a truck coming from AJK and arrested the driver concerned.

As a result, 49 trucks and their drivers are stuck up on the India-held side of the LoC. Tans-LoC travel is also suspended ever since.

Distributing gifts among the drivers, the minister said he believed that trans-LoC trade would economically strengthen the Kashmiris on both sides of the dividing line.

He said there should not be any impediments to the opportunities envisaging intra-Kashmiri meetings which should proliferate instead.

Alleging that India was conspiring to roll back trade, Mr Akbar said Pakistan had taken up the issue with the Indian government and within a day or two all stumbling blocks to its resumption would be removed.

“Unfortunately, India always comes up with excuses to disrupt relations with Pakistan… It has frustrated the spirit of the peace process, either by resorting to shelling along the LoC or hurling baseless accusations vis-à-vis travel and trade.” But, he said, time had come to remove misgivings and distances. “India needs to show seriousness.” The AJK minister made it clear that people across the LoC were struggling for their inalienable and internationally acknowledged right to self-determination and the governments in Muzaffarabad and Islamabad had been extending them political, diplomatic and moral support and would continue to do so till the accomplishment of their goal.

“We want resolution of all issues though peace talks and Kashmir remains on top of the issues that need urgent settlement acceptable to the Kashmiris.”

Mr Akbar said a warehouse for intra-Kashmir trade would be set up in Muzaffarabad within a month so that the goods from across the border were within easy reach of local population.

He said Tata had made excellent arrangements for accommodation and food for drivers from held Kashmir to their satisfaction.

Abdul Ghani, one of the stranded drivers, appreciated the arrangements but stressed the need for an early end to the standoff on trade so that they could return to their home.