India Kashmir – Srinagar, April 29: In what could be seen as a major confidence building measure (CBM), Indian government has cleared ISD facility to Pakistan from five telephone booths of Indian Kashmir to facilitate cross-border trade between two parts of Kashmir.

The trade between Indian and Pakistan controlled Kashmir was started by India and Pakistan governments in 2008. However, due to non existence of communication link from Indian Kashmir to other part of Kashmir, the trade could not pick up on the expected lines.

“The traders from Pakistani controlled Kashmir had the ISD facility to this part of Kashmir but we were handicap as we could not contact them. This did not augur well for the cross-LoC trade,” said a Kashmiri trader involved in the cross-border trade.

After the persistence demands of the Kashmiri traders for direct ISD facility to Pakistan, the Indian government has cleared a proposal to establish five telephone booths in Indian Kashmir having ISD facility to Pakistan.

“Two telephone booths would be set up in North Kashmir’s Baramulla area and two others will be established at the Poonch region. The fifth ISD connection to Pakistan will be activated in the office of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir,” sources said.

They said Government of India has passed directions in this regard to State-owned telecommunication company – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to install ISD facilities in the five booths of the region.

Sources said the facility will be confined to traders engaged in cross-border trade.

Indian government had snapped ISD facility to Pakistan from the Indian Kashmir after the eruption of militancy in 1989.

Indian Kashmir’s minister for Industries and Commerce Surjit Singh Salathia while confirming the installation of five telephone connections with ISD facility to Pakistan said the initiative was taken for the benefit of Cross-LoC traders.

NastionalTurk India Kashmir – Faiz Ahmad
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