India, Pak officials to discuss cross-LoC trade issues

New Delhi, Mar 2:

and Pakistani officials will meet on Tuesday to fine tune the mechanism for cross-

(LoC) trade in

, including urgent redressal of issues arising out of illegal practices.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of tension along the LoC after the arrest of a driver from Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK) for allegedly smuggling 'brown sugar' worth Rs 100 crore on January 17.

That resulted in disruption of the trade between the two sides of Kashmir, which resumed only in the last week of February. Following resumption of trade in Kashmir, the two sides had agreed to hold a Joint Working Group meeting to make a holistic review of trade along the LoC.

In view of this, the two sides will be meeting on March 4 where Pakistani side will be represented by Director General (South Asia) Riffat Masood and Indian side will be headed by a Joint Secretary from Ministry of External Affairs, official sources said.

Ahead of this meeting, internal deliberations were held with various stakeholders in LoC trade over the agenda for the meeting. During the talks, it was decided that India will try and work out a formula with Pakistan for increasing the volume of trade by including some more items in the import and export list.

At present, the two sides have agreed for trade of 21 items among which are carpets, rugs, honey, papier mache, saffron, medicinal herbs from Uri to Chakotti (PoK), precious stones, Peshawari leather chappals, foam mattresses, shawls and stoles and black mushrooms from PoK to Jammu and Kashmir.

There has been demand from various trading federations from the state for expanding the list. It was also decided that both sides will review the latest development of the case pertaining to brown sugar seizure and work out a formula to deal with such incidents in future.

PTI