In Kashmir border town, villagers long for resumption of India-Pakistan trade

In 2008, the town of Uri began thriving when trade routes were opened along the Line of Control as part of measures to ease tensions between India and Pakistan

But since New Delhi halted all trading activity two years ago, security lockdowns, telecoms blackouts and Covid-19 have plunged residents back into poverty

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Ataullah Handoo, 75, suffered losses when the cross-border trade was suspended in April 2019. Photo: Adil Abass

Published: 3:00pm, 31 Jul 2021Updated: 3:58pm, 1 Aug 2021

Until two years ago, Aamir Ataullah said his future as a merchant in the Indian town of Uri, close to the border with Pakistan, seemed bright.

The 28-year-old was among hundreds of barter traders plying their goods along the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between the nuclear-armed neighbours, which opened cross-border trade in 2008 as part of measures to ease tensions.

The move was an economic godsend for Uri’s 150,000 residents, especially traders, labourers and drivers. Small hotels, restaurants and the market area began thriving in the once-sleepy town.

Then India abruptly halted all trading activity in April 2019, cutting off the livelihoods of Aamir and many others who had come to rely on cross-border trade.

A highway leading to Pakistan along the Line of Control near Uri town, India’s Jammu and Kashmir. Photo: Adil Abass

“I had a lot of dreams then,” said Aamir, a law graduate from Kashmir University. “We’d thought the trade would improve further, more items would be allowed to be traded and the process would be further simplified.”

The government cited “illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency” as reasons for the clampdown.