MUZAFFARABAD: Intra-Kashmir trade, suspended since July 21 due to a row over alleged drug trafficking, resumed on Thursday amid threats of boycott and protest by relatives of a detained driver and a faction of truckers’ union.

On Thursday, two trucks with mercantile goods arrived from India-held Kashmir (IHK) while one jeep went across the divide from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to officials concerned.

The trade activity was suspended after India alleged on July 21 that one of the 14 trucks from AJK had brought 66.5kg of heroin.

Indian authorities seized the truck and arrested its driver Syed Yousuf Shah, a resident of Muzaffarabad.

Though officials from both sides met on Aug 3 and decided to resume trade activity on Aug 8, it could not happen due to concerns among traders and truckers in AJK.

On Aug 8, four trucks brought goods from IHK but they were returned because the consignment was meant for the company that was blacklisted by AJK authorities in the wake of India’s allegation of drug trafficking.

However, while several trucks brought goods from IHK on designated days between Aug 9 and Aug 16, no vehicle ferried goods from AJK to IHK during the period.

In order to break the impasse the AJK authorities sent a jeep carrying vegetable items on Thursday.

On the other hand, the mercantile goods from IHK that were unloaded at the Chakothi terminal from Aug 9 to Thursday could not be transported to Pakistani markets due to reluctance of truckers amid threats by relatives of the detained driver.

Following a strict warning by AJK authorities, these goods were finally loaded on 22 trucks on Thursday for onward transportation to downstream markets.

However, authorities did not allow the trucks to leave the terminal on Thursday, fearing a protest by the relatives of the detained driver and some truckers.

Chakothi terminal’s facilitation officer retired Maj Tahir Kazmi told Dawn that these trucks would be moved out on Friday under security cover to ensure that mercantile goods safely reached their destinations in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2017