MUZAFFARABAD: Intra-Kashmir travel and trade through the Chakothi-Uri crossing point on the Line of Control (LoC) will resume on Monday.

In order to avoid any law and order problem, authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have persuaded the family and friends of Inayat Shah, a driver detained in India-held Kashmir (IHK) on drug trafficking charges, to call off their protest.

Travel across the LoC takes place every Monday, while trade activities are carried out from Tuesday to Friday through two crossing points, in Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.

Also read: Travel across LoC suspended through Chakothi-Uri route

Trade through the Chakothi-Uri point came to a halt after IHK authorities seized suspected contraband items from a truck carrying oranges from AJK on Feb 6.

Travel through the point was also suspended last Monday because of security concerns triggered by protest demonstrations held by supporters of the detained driver.

On Feb 11, authorities from both parts of Kashmir reached an understanding following which all but one of the 72 trucks stranded on the opposite sides of the LoC were allowed to return to their sides late in the evening.

On Feb 12, in spite of an announcement by AJK officials regarding resumption of trade, only 15 trucks with fruit from IHK and none from AJK crossed the LoC.

The consignments unloaded by the IHK trucks at the Chakothi terminal could not be transported to the upcountry markets because of a strike by local truckers.

Resultantly, no trade could be held on Friday.

The relatives and friends of the detained driver had also threatened to disrupt the bus service on Monday, but, according to sources, they deferred their plan on the intervention of some notables of Muzaffarabad.

It was after negotiations with the protesters that the consignments from Chakothi were loaded by local truckers on Sunday for transportation to the fruit markets, the sources said.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play