Pakistan returns 13 Indian trucks with bananas

Jammu, April 22: Pakistani traders on Wednesday turned back 13 Indian trucks carrying bananas from Jammu and Kashmir over a dispute with Indian traders, an official said.

The trucks entered Pakistan on Tuesday as part of the trade between the two parts of divided Kashmir.

Indian officer Muhammad Ashraf Chowdhary said, at Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch officials from the two sides would meet to resolve the issue.

Indian traders said there was a dispute about settlement of accounts but added that the Pakistani traders should not have returned the trucks carrying fruits.

"Twenty-five trucks had crossed the Chakan Da Bagh crossing point from our side yesterday (Tuesday)," Chowdhary said.

"Of these, 13 trucks carrying bananas were returned," he said, adding that 10 trucks carrying almonds, herbs and apples reached the Indian side on Tuesday from Pakistan.

Trade between India and Pakistan over the Jammu and Kashmir border began in 2008 as a confidence building measure.

IANS