Security officials have said that at least 10 Kashmiri militants who crossed over to Pakistan and set up businesses with active support of the ISI, were involved in the Cross LoC trade which was recently suspended by the Indian Government, reported the Press Trust of India.
The report further added that they used the trade to ‘provide funds to militants and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir.’
According to the report, these Jammu and Kashmir natives are either based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan or Muzaffarabad in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) and operate businesses ranging from almonds, dry dates, dry fruits to mangoes as part of the modus operandi to send money to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, they said.
“These 10 militants were using the the cross LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and PaK to fund militants and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior security official said.
The security officials also detailed the ten militants and their businesses.
Mehrajuddin Bhat, a resident of Tral, had gone to Pakistan to join militancy about a decade ago. Presently staying in Rawalpindi, Bhat set up ‘Mehrajuddin Traders’ to get involved in the cross LoC trade. Mehrajuddin’s brother is also a registered LoC trader on the Indian side at the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Uri.
Nazir Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Pampore, had crossed over to Pakistan and joined militancy. Presently staying in Islamabad, he runs business through his firms the ‘New Kashmir Traders’ and ‘New Kashmir Firm’.
Basharat Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Budgam, had crossed over to Pakistan years ago and had joined militancy. Presently staying in Rawalpindi, Bhat runs his business through the ‘Al Nasir Trading Company’.
Showkat Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Budgam, had crossed over to Pakistan and joined militancy. Presently staying in Rawalpindi, Showkat’s trading firm was ‘Taha Enterprises’.
Noor Mohammad, who hails from Budgam, had crossed over to Pakistan more than a decade ago and joined militancy.Presently staying in Rawalpindi, Noor runs business through his company ‘Al Noor’.
After the trade was suspended, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti had said that ‘Modi wants to demolish whatever Vajpayee has done’.
Earlier, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, during his Friday sermon said that instead of enhancing people to people contact, Government of India, is losing whatever was achieved since the time of Atal Behari Vajapyee.
Omar Abdullah, in his reaction had said that ‘Modi govt has buried another Confidence Building Measure of the Vajapayee era.’
After the Government of India suspended the cross LoC trade, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that the action was taken as the Government has been ‘receiving reports of cross LoC trade routes being misused by Pakistan based elements for funneling illegal weapons, narcotics & fake currency.’
