Pak army at LoC refuses to let in trucks from India

The Pakistani army on Thursday refused to allow trucks from India carrying goods at cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade point in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, in the backdrop of tension in bilateral relations following ceasefire violations which killed two Indian armymen.

Nearly 25 trucks carrying goods, mostly perishable goods like vegetables, from India were not allowed to cross the LoC to enter the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) at Chakan-Da-Bagh, officials of the Trade Facilitation Center (TFC) at Poonch said.

As the trucks carrying goods for POK traders reached Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point to enter the trade center at Rawalakote (PoK) after clearance at TFC, the Pakistan army did not open the gates and conveyed this to Indian Army authorities at the point. A total of 65 trucks are now lined up waiting at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point.

Two Indian jawans were brutally killed in a raid by 29 Baloch Regiment troops of Pakistan who had intruded into Indian territory in Poonch sector earlier on January 8. This is the second time the LoC trade has come a halt after the Pakistan Army refused to open the gates during the past eight months.

LoC trade had come to a halt on June 14 last year due to closure of gates at Chakan-da-Bagh border point following heavy LoC firing, shelling and ceasefire violations since June 11 last year in which 2 Indian jawans were killed and 4 injured.