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India suspends trade across LoC, says misused for smuggling by Pak groups

India has suspended trade across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir with effect from Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in an order issued on Thursday.

“The action has been taken as the government has been receiving reports of cross LoC trade routes being misused by Pakistan based elements for funneling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency etc,” news agency ANI has reported.

In its order the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “During ongoing probe of certain cases by NIA, it has been brought out that significant number of trading concerns engaged in LoC trade are operated by persons closely associated with banned terror organisations involved in fuelling terrorism/separatism.”

The cross-LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir had resumed on Tuesday after nearly two weeks. The trade and travel across the LoC had been suspended on April 1 in the wake of heavy shelling from the Pakistani side. Three people including a Border Security Force officer, a woman and a five-year-old girl died in Poonch.

The relation between India and Pakistan has been under strain since Pulwama terror attack in February when 40 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed on Jammu-Srinagar highway.

The cross-LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir had resumed on Tuesday after nearly two weeks. The trade and travel across the LoC had been suspended on April 1 in the wake of heavy shelling from the Pakistani side. Three people including a Border Security Force officer, a woman and a five-year-old gilr died in Poonch.

The relation between India and Pakistan has been under strain since Pulwama terror attack in February when 40 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed on Jammu-Srinagar highway.

First Published:
Apr 18, 2019 18:37 IST

Source: HindustanTimes