Cross-LoC trade likely to resume tomorrow as ceasefire violations halt

The cross-LoC trade between Poonch-Rawalakot remained suspended for the second day on Thursday even as there was no report of ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. It was suspended after five mortar shells hit the cross-LoC facilitation centre at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district on Wednesday at around 12.30 pm when the process of scanning of trucks was almost complete.

Though there were no casualties in the shelling, several sheds including the one housing the X-Ray scanner were damaged. "The trade remained suspended for the second day and is likely to be resumed tomorrow (Friday)," custodian of LoC trade centre, Poonch, Fareed Kohli told PTI.

The cross-LoC trade between Poonch on this side and Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which started in October 2008, takes place four days a week from Tuesday to Friday on the barter system. The Indian Army had retaliated to the firing from Pakistan on Wednesday. "There has been no report of ceasefire violation from anywhere along the LoC since late Wednesday afternoon," an Army official said.

He said the Indian Army is fully alert and maintaining tight vigil along the LoC and the International Border. There has been a spurt in cross-border skirmishes after India's pre-emptive air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot on February 26. The strike followed the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The JeM had claimed responsibility for the attack.

(With inputs from agencies.)