Trading goods across borders is any day better than trading fire. To that extent, the decision of the Indian and Pakistan governments to commence cross-LoC trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot roads on October 21 is an ideal confidence-building measure. The movement can melt the mutual suspicions and tensions and also improve the standard of living of the people of the area, who have few business opportunities at the moment. It is indeed a pity that some items have to go from one country to another through a circuitous route which at times involves sending them to a third country, when all this can be done directly in far less time and in a far less costly manner. While the Union Ministry of Commerce had approved a list of 23 items from Kashmir, Pakistan has sent a list of 26 items. Pakistan has approved only 11 of the 23 items. There is need to expand the lists.
In fact, the best way to ease tension would be to soften the borders even further. Opening the Wagah-Attari road link and the Khokrapar-Munnabao rail link for trade will be a step in the right direction. Pakistan has also given up to some extent its reluctance on the Kargil-Skardu route. The demand for trade in the Jammu region through routes like the Pallanwala-Chhamb, Mirpur-Nowshera or Suchetgarh should also be considered. In fact, there is need to make borders irrelevant in future.
Needless to say, all these developments are concomitant on Pakistan sticking to its reassurance that it will not allow misuse of its territory for anti-India activities. When such mischief goes on, the sentiment behind the trade becomes meaningless. At the same time, it is necessary to put in place a mechanism so that the newly opened routes do not become an excuse for smuggling of weapons and drugs. The experience at the Wagah border has not been very happy. The law-enforcement authorities will have to be exceptionally vigilant and spotlessly honest to keep potential mischief makers at bay.
