Mehbooba Mufti Calls for Resumption of Cross-LoC Trade and Bus Service to Restore Normalcy in J-K

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restart cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade and bus service in Jammu and Kashmir. She argues that these measures would be significant steps towards normalizing the region and alleviating the hardships faced by affected traders.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restart the cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade and bus service in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing their importance for confidence-building and normalcy in the region.

In her letter to Shah, Mufti highlighted that cross-LoC trade and travel had previously opened avenues for peace between India and Pakistan, promoting sustainable peace in the region. The bus service between Uri and Muzaffarabad began in 2005, with cross-LoC trade starting through Uri and Poonch in 2008.

However, the Centre halted these services in 2019, citing misuse by anti-national elements. Mufti stressed the distress faced by traders and called for an immediate relook at the closure to alleviate their hardships. She also urged for the provision of banking and communication services to ensure transparency and security.