Cross-LoC trade suspended for short-term gains, will come at a huge price for people: Mirwaiz

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said the suspension of cross-LoC trade via Salamabad and Chakan-da-Bagh routes will come at a huge price for the people of Kashmir.
Mirwaiz said that instead of enhancing people to people contact and improve trade ties the present government of India has been adverse to any such idea. “Extremely unfortunate that GOI instead of enhancing people to people contact as families of both side of LOC stand divided &improving trade &other ties,even whatever little had been achieved since Vajpayee time is being blocked &stopped.Such measures for short term gains come at a huge price for people (sic),” said the Mirwaiz while addressing the mandatory congregational Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.
On Thursday, the government of India ordered suspension of cross-LoC trade between parts of divided Kashmir via Salamabad (Uri) and Chakan-da-Bagh (Poonch) routes.
The trade fraternity of Kashmir has considered the step as a huge setback to the trade between the two divided parts of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Mirwaiz said that the Kashmir conflict has consumed generations and has put the entire Himalayan region in perils.
“At Jamia, again people have peacefully conveyed a clear message of what they seek and where their priority lies which is resolution of the lingering #Kashmir Conflict that has consumed generations, inflicted suffering& pain and put the whole region in peril,” Mirwaiz said.