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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Cross LOC trade and drug racket

Through discussions started May 2008 the launch of cross LOC trade in August 30,2008 was times to appease Kashmir Valley just ahead of assembly elections.In summer 2008 Jammu and Kashmir passed through crisis, perhaps the worst for India in 50 years. Kashmir valley erupted one on the transfer of a piece of land to a temple trust on two counts-the some sections of the Kashmir valley saw it as a government sponsored attempt to change the demographic profile of the Valley while  others based their opposition on ecological concerns.Under pressure,the state government rescinded the land allotment order leading to an immediate and violent backlash in Jammu and other parts of northern India.Hundreds of thousands of people in Kashmir valley vented their anger against India and took a APHC leaders laid by sambolic march to the Line of Control demonstrating for connections with in POK as the Amarnath disturbances had blocked the National Highway  through Jammu.17 protesters including frientline JKPL-Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Leauge chairman, Mr. Sheikh Abdul Aziz were killed. The Government, it seems, has not learnt any lessons from the 2008 agitation. In response to Hurriyat call, eight  lakh people (as per rough estimates) assembled at Pampore at the Rasam-e-qul (last rites) of slain Hurriyat leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz. He was killed in Baramulla district while marching towards Muzaffarabad. The separatists could not manage the gathering. The microphones did not work and people did not hear what the leaders were saying from an elevated podium.

In Jammu local Hindu dominated business community called for complete snapping of trade ties with Kashmir.In such a surcharged atmosphere New Delhi felt strong pressure from Indian civil society and therefore immediately started taking about cross-LoC trade between Srinagar and Muzafarabad to ease tension in Kashmir Valley. Jammu saw this as weak appeasement or surrender  by Delhi to separatists pressure,while the Kashmir Valley saw it as the start of  lasting resoulation of the Kashmir dispute.
New Delhi feared Kashmir Valley would not vote in legislative assembly elections announced its go-ahead. A delegation of traders from Muzafarabad was invited to visit Kashmir and then Jammu. But Mr Syed Ali Shah Gilani and other separatists called the proposal a cosmetic measure to deviate attention from core issue. However it was largely welcomed in the Valley. A 23-member traders delegation from Muzafarabad was warmly welcomed in Srinagar even though the government and civil society groups where the atmosphere was surcharged by the Hindu temple land row.