Srinagar, April 24: Getting reports of ‘misused’ of elements across the border to smuggle weapons, narcotics, and fake currency, India indefinitely suspended the cross-LoC trade at two points along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. In a latest development, it has been noted that at least 10 militants have been involved in this act. They have set up businesses across the border in Pakistan with the help of ISI to provide funds to militants and pro-freedom leaders in Jammu and Kashmir were involved in the recently suspended cross LoC trade.
The officials informed that these Jammu and Kashmir natives are either based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan or Muzaffarabad in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) who are operating businesses. These businesses range from almonds, dry dates, and dry fruits to mangoes as part of the modus operandi to send money to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.
“These 10 militants were using the cross LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and PaK to fund militants and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior security official said.
The Line of Control (LoC) trade is meant to facilitate exchange of goods between the local people across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. The LoC trade across Chakan-Da-Bagh and Salamabad was intended as a confidence-building measure for the population living in Jammu and Kashmir and across the Line of Control (LoC) in PaK.
During the ongoing investigations of certain cases by NIA, it has come across that people associated with banned terrorist organisations are involved in this illegal act. Investigations have further revealed that some individuals, who have crossed over to Pakistan and joined militant organizations have opened trading firms in Pakistan. These trading firms are under the control of militant organizations and are engaged in LoC trade.
After the Pulwama incident, the Government of India has withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan. Inputs have also been received that in order to evade the consequent higher duty, LoC trade is likely to be misused to a much larger extent.