Notwithstanding the fury of protesters in the Srinagar Valley and Jammu over Amarnath Shrine land row, India and Pakistan finalized the modalities today (22nd Sept ’08) of mutual trade across the Line of Control (LoC). The trading on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot routes are expected to begin next month, as per foreign ministry sources in India.
The additional secretary in the Pakistani foreign ministry, Janab Aijaz Ahmad Choudhary, who led the Pakistan delegation to New Delhi said, “We have finalized the modalities. We will submit it to our bosses.” Asked when trading would begin, his prompt reply was, "political masters will decide."
This trade agreement is likely to be announced after Indian Premier Singh and his Pakistani counterpart meet on the sidelines of General Assembly in New York.
Meanwhile, the two countries have fine-tuned logistical matters like items on trade, customs, movements and security affairs.
Indian items on the list to be exported include carpets, rugs, wall hangings, pashmina shawls, tapestry, cricket bats, furniture and wooden items, silk and related products, Kashmiri fruit and dry fruit, Kashmiri saffron and spices etc.
The Pakistani list, on the other hand, includes marble, precious stones, medicinal herbs, marble furniture, papier mache powder, garlic, onion, gabbas and carpet cloth (nawdas).
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