As trucks loaded with tomatoes crossed the border between Pakistan and India on October 1, it marked the revival of a forsaken mode after 60 years. A major breakthrough in confidence building measures as a prelude to much awaited comprehensive dialogue for the settlement of all outstanding disputes in the long drawn peace process launched way back in 2004, it has a significance of its own.
For compared to other trade-related confidence measures thus far adopted, opening of this overland trade route was, indeed, a difficult nut to crack. Heavily militarised as Wagah/Attari border between the arch nuclear rivals happens to be, it required much more than merely a few rounds of talks between their political leaders alone.
Needless to point out, the urge for reopening this trade route was inspired by the aspirations of businessmen on both sides of the border. Of course the will of the two governments was also very much there. Yet, understandably, the decision in the matter could not be rushed through because of the security concerns, on which there could not be any two opinions either.
This was precisely why revival of the long abandoned trade route turned into a slow moving process. Some idea of its inevitability may, however, be had from the modalities chalked out at the technical level meeting held in August between the customs authorities of the two countries at Wagah, to allow cross-border movement of trucks up to the designated points from October 1, 2007.
The two sides agreed that trucks from one side would be allowed to go to designated points on the other side at the Wagah/Attari border for unloading cargo. They also agreed on the establishment of a hotline between the two customs authorities at the Wagah/Attari border. In the first stage, smaller trucks would be allowed to cross over to the other side.
Reference, in this regard, may also be made to the decision to introduce a computerised single entry permit containing picture, ID of the driver, along with his name, address, licence number, and details of the vehicle to do away with the need for passport, visa and international driving licence.
Evidently, to guard against all contingencies the technical officials also specified the colour of the jackets/vests the truck drivers would wear. It will thus be noted that going deep into minute details of security issues they put in their best efforts to make the route as safe as humanly possible. At the same they did not ignore the local problems, thereby prescribing also the manner to resolved them. All in all, revival of Wagah/Attari trade route should mean a happy augury for mutual trade between Pakistan and India to their increasing mutual advantage.