Indo-Pak trade normal in Jammu and Kashmir despite surgical strike

Cross border trade between India and Pakistan remained unaffected in Jammu and Kashmir despite the surgical strikes by the army across the Line of Control (LoC), with 26 trucks crossing over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and 13 from there reaching the Indian side.

As the state administration went into a huddle with army officials discussing possible evacuation of the locals from villages on the border amid heightened tensions between the two countries, trucks carrying goods from India crossed Salamabad checkpost in Uri on way to PoK.

Similarly, PoK authorities said 13 trucks with goods including embroidery items crossed over into Salamabad from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

After necessary documentation was completed, the cross over of trucks started at 2 PM and was completed by 4 PM, officials said.

They said Indian trucks carried chilli seeds, embroidery material, cumin seeds and black cardamom, while the trucks from PoK came with almonds, dried dates and mangoes.

Uri, located 102 km north of Srinagar, is one of the last Teshils in Baramulla district of north Kashmir. It was in news recently after four militants of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) carried out a suicide attack on army camp killing 18 soldiers on September 18.

Tension between India and Pakistan has been increasing since then. In the wee hours of Thursday, India said its troops had carried out surgical strikes inside PoK and destroyed terrorists launch pads located in that part of Kashmir.