LoC trade a good news, PDP, wants easy permit system

Srinagar, Sep 23 (UNI) Hailing the decision of India and Pakistan to resume cross Line of Control (LoC) trade, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that this will go long way in resolving the basic political dispute through a course of dialogue and economic freedom.

However, it called for an easy permit system and hassle free visa regime to facilitate the free flow of trade and cross LoC movement.

In a resolution adopted at a workers meeting here today the PDP expressed hope that a formal announcement for resuming cross border trade will be made at the summit level meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pak president on the sidelines of UN Session in New York.

The resolution also called for an easy permit system and hassle free visa regime to facilitate the free flow of trade and cross LoC movement.

''The party awaits a historical movement for borders to become irrelevant in the event of negotiated settlement of the dispute of the state of Jammu and Kashmir,'' the resolution added.

It said that the agreement reached at yesterday's Indo-Pak working group on cross LoC trade meeting will help soothe the tempers in Jammu and Kashmir, which had marked an all time high in the aftermath of an ignonimous economic blockade forced by communal elements in Jammu.

The senior leaders, speaking on the occasion, termed the agreement as a forward movement which comes as an acknowledgement of people's sacrifices offered by them against the economic blockade and for opening of the trade routes.

They said that there is also an urgency to open other routes like Kargil- Askardu, Jammu-Sialokote and Bandipora-Gilgit roads after the trade commences on Poonch-Rawlakote and Srinagar Muzzaffarabad routes.

''The people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides have been craving for an end to isolation through an economic independence and opening of these routes is a natural choice,'' the party leaders said, adding that once all the routes across the border are opened the state will serve as a nerve center for free economic exchange with a potential to become a free economic zone.

They said that the peaceful agitation of the people is paying dividends. The PDP leaders exhorting on governments of India and Pakistan to shun away the inhibitions and resume a sustained dialogue on the core issue.

The Confidence-Building Measures CBMs, they said, can only help in making the atmosphere conducive for reconciliation and mutual trust.

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