The border tensions between India and Pakistan on Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) has led to suspension of cross LOC trade and Karvan-e-Aman bus service between Srinagar to Muzaffarabad.
There is no trade taking place between trade facilitation Salamabad and Muzzafrabad for the last two weeks since the tension escalated on border.
The traders of divided parts of the state have communicated to each other to suspend the trade for some time till the border tension eases.
The traders are apprehensive about the safety of the truckers and the workers who are facilitating the trade items between the two parts of the state.
The situation on LoC in the last couple of weeks has led to suspension of trade activity which otherwise had remained unaffected since 2008 when it was started.
The cross-LoC trade was started in 2008 as a major confidence building measure where as the peace bus service was kicked off for divided families in 2005.
There are 800 registered traders and trade is currently conducted using the barter system.
Cross-LoC trade is among the confidence building measures initiated by India and Pakistan after the start of the Karvan-e-Aman or Peace Bus on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road.
Cross-LoC trade also between Poonch-Rawalakot, the community of traders has found a way of insulating the process from outside influences with a fair amount of success.
The peace bus service, Karvan-e-Aman, too was suspended owing to the tensions which has resulted in many causalities.
The bus serve remained suspended for the second consecutive week. The bus runs between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad on weekly bases. But the bus service remained suspended for the last two weeks.
The people of divided part of the state are taking benefit from the bus service and it is usually plying on Mondays.
There is regular firing between the troops of India and Pakistan on number of places on LoC and International order which has also left to many causality and injury to people.
