MUZAFFARABAD: An Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) official has accused Indian authorities of resorting to blame game to bring the trans-Line of Control trade and travel into disrepute.

Talking to reporters on Sunday about allegations that heroin was seized from one of the trucks going from AJK to India-held Kashmir, retired Brig Mohammad Ismail, Director General of the AJK Travel and Trade Authority (Tata), confirmed that trade and travel activities would not take place through the three border crossing points from Monday (today). Trans-LoC travel takes place every week on Monday through Chakothi-Uri, Tetrinote-Chakan da Bagh and Chilyana-Titwal crossing points while trade activities are conducted through the first two crossing points from Tuesday to Friday.

“We will be asking the Foreign Office to take up this issue with the government of India because at the moment it appears that Indian authorities want to roll back this Kashmir-specific confidence building measure (CBM) on flimsy grounds,” Brig Ismail said.

He said that following a series of controversial steps taken by Indian authorities over the past one year he had informed the Foreign Office that New Delhi could break off trans-LoC trade under any pretext.

Indian authorities alleged on Friday to have seized 114 packets of heroin from one of the 49 trucks which ferried goods to India-held Kashmir.

Brig Ismail said it was not the first time that Indian authorities had resorted to such allegations to malign and discourage trans-LoC trade and travel.

The Tata chief said that while the trade items were loaded and unloaded on his side in the presence of the drivers and traders concerned, the practice on the other side was entirely different.

“In a situation where the drivers and traders concerned are not allowed to go near the trucks at the time of unloading, any contraband item can be added to the goods to cook up a story to malign the other side,” he added.