The visiting AJK trade delegation met chairmen of the two factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and expressed their eagerness to make the trade across the Line of Control a success.
While Hurriyat (M) chairman congratulated president AJK Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zulfiqqar Abbasi, for announcing formation of a joint business chamber and termed the commencement of trade scheduled later this month as a "good beginning", Gillani group chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani said that the trade can't be a substitute to the lasting solution of Kashmir issue.
A delegation of the members of AJK Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its president Abbasi first met Geelani at his Hyderpora residence.
Briefing the media persons about the meeting, Abbasi said he told the senior Hurriyat leader that trading bodies across the border were serious to start the trade. "If India and Pakistan want to play politics let them play it. We have arrived here in connection of the trade and we will make it successful," Abbasi said.
However, Geelani said he told Abbasi that the commencement of trade can't lead to the resolution of Kashmir issue. "Government of India had hype to the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service as if it would solve the Kashmir issue but the results are evident. The service proved to be a failure," Geelani said.
Geelani said the cross LoC trade as finalised by the two governments won't be free in nature. He said only those items allowed by the two governments would be allowed to be traded. "It is only symbolic. The policy of Indian government is to maintain status quo by softening the borders," Geelani said.
The senior pro-freedom leader said he asked the member of AJK trade delegation to inform AJK people and government that the "for the ongoing pro-freedom movement which is peaceful in nature, we expect support from them."
Geelani said there was no change in ground situation in Kashmir.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dr Mubeen Shah accompanied the AJK delegation. Shah said the members of the visiting delegation expressed desire to meet the Hurriyat leaders. "We are hosting the AJK delegation and we would try to facilitate their meeting with whomsoever they want to meet," Shah said.
The delegation called on Mirwaiz Farooq at his Nigeen residence. Mirwaiz said he congratulated Abbasi, his fellow members and representatives from KCCI on the announcement of the formation of a joint business chamber. "It is a good beginning. It should not be seen as a trade between two countries but two parts of a same state," Mirwaiz said.
He hoped that both India and Pakistan would act as "good facilitators" for the trade to grow. "We expect them to provide every logistic support to this economic activity," the Hurriyat leader said.
Mirwaiz hoped that the initiative on trade shouldn't meet the same fate as Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, which has now turned a "symbolic initiative" due to various impediments set by the both countries in form of clearance of travelling documents.
"We are looking forward to this initiative. Our ultimate aim is the line of control between two parts of Kashmir gets removed," said Mirwaiz.
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