Recently the Ministry of Home Affairs imposed a ban on cross border trade through LOC. This move has been taken, as the Government of India is squeezing the terror funding and taking on the terrorists. In the new twist of turns, the recent imposed is put as the intelligence agencies have credible information that cross-LoC trade routes are being misused by Pakistan-based elements for funneling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency. The trade was allowed through the two Trade Facilitation Centres located at Salamabad and Uri in Baramullah and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch. The trade takes place four days a week. The trade is based on the barter system and zero duty basis. However, the reports were received that these trade routes have been misused by Pakistan based elements to spread terrorism, instigate innocent people for stone pelting and separatism. India has already withdrawn the tag of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) from Pakistan and this restriction is the second biggest decision taken after the Pulwama attack.

 

 

 

 

There are credible information that Pakistan is training terrorists in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and providing funding in Kashmir to spread terrorism. The recent crackdown on trading on LOC is a clear indication that India will not tolerate funding of terrorism and separatism in Kashmir (a smallest part of Jammu and Kashmir). The intelligence agencies have found that Pakistan is sending Almonds, which comes from California and popularly known as California Almonds. These California Almonds are the biggest mechanism, used by Pakistan, to channelize hawala money, which is pumped into Kashmir for terrorism and separatism. As a result India is forced to enforce the ban on the cross border trade through LOC. As per the report the California Almonds are sold at much cheaper rate in Kashmir and the huge profit, out of sale proceeds of these Almonds, is sent to terrorists and separatists in Kashmir to promote radical Wahhabi ideology is spread in Kashmir. In the investigation of NIA it has been found that the terrorists are supplying the California Almonds under the garb of trade. The sellers of California Almonds purchase it at the cost of Rs 200/- and sell it on a profit of Rs 1,000/- or more. A big share of this profit is being given to terrorists and separatists in Kashmir.

 

 

 

 

The trade on LOC is based on the barter system. In Kashmir it was Aman Sethu in Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch where traders either sell or purchase their products. The Trade Facilitation Centres are also established on LOC, where the trucks from both the places arrive. According to the intelligence agencies there are credible evidences about how the illegal money is entering into Kashmir in the name of trading on LOC and this money is used to spread terrorism in Kashmir. The Enforcement Directorate has arrested the President of LOC Traders Zahoo Ahmed Watali. He is currently imprisoned in Tihar central jail in terror funding cases. The Enforcement Directorate has already attached his property worth crores of rupees and further investigations are on. The investigating agencies found that he was funnelling the money to terrorists, separatists and subversive elements in the valley.

 

The California Almonds are bigger that Kashmiri Almonds, which is used for terror funding. According to the reports, since 2008 RS 21,000/- crore trades between Salamabad (POJK) and Uri, and Rs 6,700/- crore through Chakan-Da-Bagh and Poonch 6700 crore has happened. Also, Hawala money is sent to Kashmir not only from Pakistan but Britain and Saudi Arabia as well. The Wahhabi ideology is the responsible for terrorism in Kashmir. Pakistan is trying to control Madarsas and Mosques in Kashmir through this money. According to another report over Rs 17,000/- crore is sent illegally in Kashmir and the money is used to purchase land in Kashmir so as to control the religious institutions in Kashmir. The roots of this dirty game are spread in Pakistan, Britain and Saudi Arabia. The money goes to separatists and from there it goes to terrorists and stone-pelters. It is an investment from Pakistan through which it continues terrorism in Kashmir.

 

Pakistan is facing too much economic hardships. Pakistan is on the brink of signing up for it 13th International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout since the late 1980s in a bid to stave off a balance of payments crisis and ease the ballooning current account and fiscal deficits. But Pakistan is continuing its agenda of terrorism in Kashmir through this trade route.