Trade activity suspended at LoC after alleged drug haul

Published
72

MUZAFFARABAD: Trade activity through the Chakothi sector remained suspended for the second day on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday after Indian authorities allegedly seized drugs from a truck carrying oranges on the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road.

Cross border trade came to a halt at LoC after Indian authorities impounded 22 trucks carrying trading goods from Pakistan. Indian authorities claim that heroin was being smuggled in the trucks carrying boxes of oranges.

Whereas the Azad Kashmir Trade and Travel Authority (Tata) also declined to return 50 trucks coming from India through Kashmir.

Tata officials confirmed the intra-Kashmir trade embargo and claimed that under the agreement between the two countries, authorities in India-held Kashmir are obliged to return the trucks carrying trading merchandise.

Officials further said that until and unless Indian authorities provide evidence with regards to the drug smuggling allegation and return the 22 seized trucks, the 50 trucks held by them will not be permitted to return.

DG Azad Jammu and Kashmir LoC Trade and Travel Authority Brig Rt Imtiaz said that the incident has been brought to the notice of Pakistan's External Ministry and media will be apprised of the latest developments upon the ministry’s advice.

A similar standoff had occurred last year in January, due to which 49 truckers from AJK and 27 from India-held Kashmir had remained stuck up on each side of the LoC.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

THE plan to deepen the domestic local currency bond market by allowing the public to trade government securities...
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...