Kashmir: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, has called for the immediate resumption of the Line of Control (LoC) trade, which has been halted since 2019. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti expressed her strong disapproval of the Income Tax Department’s actions, accusing them of unfairly targeting traders who have been left jobless since the trade’s suspension.
According to Mehbooba, the LoC trade was based on a barter system without any financial transactions. She criticized the tax authorities for demanding taxes from traders involved in this exchange, describing the move as unjust and detrimental to their livelihoods.
“The traders who once participated in this vital confidence-building measure (CBM) between the two sides of Kashmir are now being hounded by tax officials,” she stated, adding that this has only added to their hardships following the cessation of cross-border trade.
Mufti called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take immediate steps to restore the LoC trade, which was initiated during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and launched under Manmohan Singh’s leadership. She emphasized that the continuation of this trade is crucial for the economic well-being of those affected and for fostering trust between the regions.
Furthermore, she voiced her concerns over what she perceives as an attempt to weaken the people of Kashmir, cautioning against the possible confiscation of traders’ properties by the authorities.