Trade through Jehlum valley road resumes, trucks left for POK

Salamabad, Uri, Oct 21 (UNI) Yet another golden chapter was added to the history of India and Pakistan today when the first truck from here crossed the Aman Setu bridge following an agreement between the two neighbours to resume trade ties between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), leaving behind the six decade old bitterness and mistrust.

Hundreds of locals, traders and mediapersons, representing national, international and local organisations became witness to this historic moment when Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra flagged off the first truck from here.

A group of elderly people from nearby villages could not control their emotions when the trucks, fully decorated, left for POK.

It was like a dream come true for us to see resumption of trade ties again with the '' Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir'', said Abdul Gaffar, who has a number of relations on other side of the border.

He said it was on this day Srinagar-Muzaffarabad-Rawalpindi road was closed in 1947 because of partition.

According to officials trucks were carrying fresh and dry fruit, pulses and Kashmiri crafts to other side.

''We are waiting for the trucks coming from the other side,'' they said.

They said the trucks from here will travel upto Chakote through Aman Setu bridge, the last Indian military post, where they will be off loaded. Similarly trucks from POK will travel upto Salamabad to get unloaded.

UNI BAS SP SSC1159