India suspends LoC trade with immediate effect
India suspends LoC trade with immediate effect India decided to suspend cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade with immediate effect on Thursday, citing misuse of the facility by anti-national elements for sneaking in hawala money and weapons to fuel terrorism in the country. The Indian government has suspended the LoC trade at Salamabad and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Jammu and Kashmir. The government has been receiving reports that the cross-LoC trade routes were being misused by the terror elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency etc. Also Read: India disappointed over Pak seeking more evidence on JeM's involvement in Pulwama attack While briefing the media, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that a probe was conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It revealed that some individuals who crossed over to Pakistan and have joined terror groups. They have opened trading firms which were under the control of these terror groups. And these terror groups were fully engaged in the LoC trade. Also Read: 'Pacts on energy, defence, trade signed during President Kovind's 3-nation visit' It is worth mentioning here that India had already withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack. So, in order to avoid the higher duty, LoC trade was being misused to a much larger extent. -PTC NEWS
