Poonch wants
cross-LoC trade to continue
Traders view killing of the two Indian soldiers as a ‘bigger conspiracy’ to
fail the Indo-Pakistan CBMs on J&K
For
26-year-old Kulsoom Akhtar, who lives with her husband and two children in a
hutment right in front of Gurdwara Dheri Sahab on the middle of the road
leading from Poonch to Chakan-Da-Bagh, revival of the cross-LoC trade and
travel after 58 years carries no meaning.
“Our roads are completely different from yours,” says the
young Bakerwal woman of Khari hamlet.
Even when activity resumed with fanfare in 2005 and 2008
on the once-bustling trade route, connecting Rajouri and Poonch areas of Jammu to Rawalakot and Kotli towns across the LoC, Ms.
Akhtar was dying for her reunion with the husband who then earned a livelihood
in Saudi Arabia
“It takes us four days to walk our herds to Gulmarg. We
tread further to Srinagar
Ongoing skirmishes between the Indian and the Pakistani
troops on the LoC from Uri to Mendhar have put a minuscule political chunk on
Ms. Akhtar ’s side. Contrary to her innocence, the outbursts by a few BJP
activists are pregnant with politics. “To hell with this trade and travel which
make us helpless before the aggression. Our jawans are being killed,” the angry
activists were heard shouting after the killing of two soldiers on January 8.
A 10-minute drive on Residency Road drops you at a
military memorial, just a couple of miles short of the splendid palace of the
ruler in 1947 Raja Moti Singh, Moti Mahal — now headquarters of 93 Infantry
Brigade. Immediately after the reported death of a Pakistani soldier across Charonda,
Uri, on January 6, and the killing of two Indian soldiers at Mankot, Mendhar,
on January 8, men of all formations of 93 Brigade are on a high alert from Haji
Pir to Poonch. “Uri 45 km, Hajipir 22 km, Degwar 5 km” announces the memorial
made of jet black granite.
Deepak Khanna, who has been hosting variety shows and
public events for the Army, in addition to producing and presenting patriotic
programmes on All India Radio Poonch, negates both Ms. Akhtar and the local BJP
leaders. “Trade and travel through Chakan-Da-Bagh has proved to be the biggest
confidence building measure between India
and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir
“Particularly the trade has come as a boon. Previously,
only the few affluent people would enjoy the luxury of buying a kilo of apple.
Fresh or dry fruit or vegetables, these are now affordable to the poorest here
as the prices have come down drastically after 2008,” Mr. Khanna said. He
narrated how his Muslim father stood back and chose to become a Hindu during
the 1947 war. “Two of my uncles are still Muslims. They live in Rawalakot,” Mr.
Khanna revealed.
“Fruit of real Azadi”
Nevertheless, the proverbial horse’s mouth clarification
comes from none other than the general secretary of Cross-LoC Trade, Krishen Singh.
“Both travel as well as trade have brought about a veritable revolution in
Poonch,” Mr. Singh told The Hindu. “We have tasted the fruit of the real
Azadi since 2008.”
Mr. Singh narrated how people from across the LoC used to
enjoy their visits and sometimes refuse to go back. Some of them died a natural
death and were buried in the local community graveyards by members of the
divided families.
“Sometime back, three of our guests from PoK met Deputy
Commissioner Mohammad Ramzan Thakur and told him that they would never return
even if they were killed. DC Sahab strived hard and managed to extend their
stay by 10 days,” Mr. Singh recalled. “They told DC that they were living in
hell while they viewed the Indian-administered J&K as heaven.”
“But, believe me this disruption is the part of a bigger
conspiracy. The agencies in Pakistan
Some reports insist that the PoK authorities had
suspended the trade and travel only after one of the Pakistani trucks got hit
by Indian shelling across Battal, Mendhar. Mr. Singh dismissed these reports as
“rubbish” and claimed that the Pakistani troops “under the influence of ISI”
had made several attempts in the past to sabotage cross-LoC trade and travel.
President of Anjuman-e-Jaffriya, Zaki Hyder, too echoed
Mr. Singh’s views and claimed that the authorities in Pakistan
Noted writer and Urdu scholar Khush Dev Sing Maini
confirmed that a part of the 50 Km road from Tatarinot (Hajeera) was exposed to
Indian shelling in Battal area of Mendhar where the brutality happened on
Tuesday last. He, however, pointed out that the troops of opposite sides had
rarely targeted a road.
Government of India
“…peaceful atmosphere has been disturbed due to
unfortunate incidents of firing and brutal killings across the LoC at various
places in Poonch and Uri areas. These incidents have shaken the confidence of
the people. There is a lot of tension and panic among the public. We the people
of border areas who have enjoyed the fruit of peace and the LoC CBMs following
the ceasefire on the LoC do not want the escalation of the situation and lives
being disturbed as a result of more killings,” said an appeal issued through
the media by the local civil society and signed by 14 prominent traders,
intellectuals and lawyers.
It added: “The members of civil society of Poonch would
like to make a humble appeal to Governments of India and Pakistan
END
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