| NEW YORK | RUPEE NEWS | August 9th, 2008 | Moin Ansari | Historical changes are happening in Kashmir. The BJP blockade of goods to Kashmir is having the opposite effect of that had been intended by the Hinduvata bigots. Kashmirs are clamoring to tresspass the LOC and sell their goods and services to Azad Kashmir opening up trade routes that had crumbled in the past few decades.

Ladakh has a Muslim majority map. Kashmir valley map

Clamour for cross-LoC trade grows louder ARIF SHAFI WANI/GOWHAR BHAT

Northern Areas are not part of Kashmir and Azad Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 6: While the economic blockade of Kashmir Valley enforced by extremist groups has started to show its effects, the people, traders and economists of Kashmir are demanding restoration of alternative road links.

Due to the blockade, the Valley is reeling under severe shortage of essential commodities, including food grains, life saving medicine, petroleum products and other essential commodities.

Kashmiri women asking for freedom from Indian ocucpation

Due to shortage of supplies, hundreds of marriage ceremonies have been cancelled. Even the newspapers had to reduce their pages due to acute shortage of newsprint.
Terming the situation as serious, noted economist of Valley, Prof Nisar Ali, said the opening up of alternative routes to Kashmir is imperative to save the Valley from economic catastrophe. “Due to the stopping of supplies for past many days, there is crisis-like situation in the Valley. Fruits worth crores of rupees can’t be shipped to Jammu and other parts,” Prof Ali said.

Kashmiris asking for freedom from Indian occupation

However, Prof Ali maintained that Jammu will suffer more losses than Kashmir. “Valley is a potential market for goods manufactured in or imported from Jammu. Besides, most of the forwarding agents for Kashmir fruits are based in Jammu. In the whole process, Jammu will suffer most economically. It would be wiped off the trade map. The state will lose over Rs 800 crores annually by virtue of excise duty and other taxes,” he said.

“As people of Jammu have decided to continue the economic blockade, the Government must open alternative trade routes to tackle the grave situation in the Valley. India and Pakistan must immediately open the cross-LoC routes with Valley,” he added.

Kashmiris protesting Indian occupation in 2008

During the last some years, India and Pakistan have been proposing to launch cross-LoC truck and bus service in Jammu and Kashmir as a Confidence Building Measure. Besides Jehlum Valley Road, the two countries proposed opening of Kargil-Skardu, Poonch-Rawlakote and Jammu-Sialkot roads.

Last month, the two sides held joint-secretary level talks in Islamabad for opening the cross-LoC roads fro trade, but the proposal is yet to be implemented on ground. With the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, the demand for opening the cross-LoC roads has gained momentum.

Kashmiris protest Indian occupaiton

Prominent constitutional expert, A G Noorani, termed the economic blockade as unconstitutional. “It is surprising how the Government is tolerating the economic blockade to Kashmir. The blockade is totally unconstitutional, illegal and Government must immediately act against the vested interests and restore supplies to the Valley,” he said.

“The authorities should also explore alternative road links to the Valley,” Noorani added.

Kashmir road map with links to Pakistan and Azad Kashmir

The blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway has forced sharp decline in tourists flow to the Valley. “Many of our bookings have been cancelled as the activists of extremists organizations are not allowing the tourists to travel to Kashmir. We desperately need to explore the options of alternative route links like Jehlum Valley Road in the wake of the blockade,” said chairman of Houseboat Owners Association, Muhammad Azim Tuman.
The traders too are of the opinion that the option of the alternative road links need to be explored since the Valley is on the brink of a disaster due to the blockade.

“The opening of routes like Srinagar-Muzaffarabad will not only give Kashmiri products an access to the international markets like Central and East Asia but other world class products could also be made available to the consumers here,” said president Kashmir Traders Federation, Farooq Ahmad Shah.

Shah said opening routes like Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road would also end the Valley’s dependence on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, which often remains closed for weeks together. “The cross-LoC trade will give fillip to the Valley’s economy,” he added.

While terming the economic blockade as unlawful, the president High Court Bar Association, Nazir Ahmad Ronga, said Kashmiri people were left with no option but to look for Muzzafarabad Road.

“People have been left starving here in the absence of essential commodities. The Muzaffarabad Road needs to be opened so that essential food items, life saving drugs and other items of daily use reach the Valley,” Ronga said.

Arrest of Kashmiri civilian asking for freedom from Indian occupation

The fruit growers, who have been demanding the opening of the Jehlum Valley Road for past many days say at present the road link is the only option that can save them from losses.

“Among all Valleyites, we are the worst hit by the highway blockade. This is our peak season and unfortunately all our produce is rotting in trucks on the highway. Though India and Pakistan have been working on the CBMs, but now is the time when the Jehlum Valley Road needs to be opened so that we are saved from incurring huge losses,” president United Fruit Growers, Irfan Hafiz Lone, said.

“If the Government doesn’t immediately open the cross-LoC roads, we will be forced to go on hunger strike,” he added