Kashmir cross-LoC trade centre handed to tourism authority

The Salamabad trade centre in Kashmir has been formally handed over to the Tourism Department, concluding a chapter that once symbolized economic cooperation between India and Pakistan. The facility, which operated as a vital commercial hub along the Line of Control, has remained largely dormant since cross-LoC trade was suspended in 2019.

The closure of bilateral trade significantly impacted traders and merchants who had built livelihoods on the exchange of goods with Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The centre served as a regulated marketplace where merchants from both sides conducted business, contributing to local economic activity and employment in the border region.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reflected on the transfer, characterizing it as the closing of "a chapter of hope." Her remarks underscored the aspirations that the trade mechanism had represented for cross-border economic cooperation and regional stability.

The handover to the Tourism Department signals a shift in the centre's intended use, as authorities explore alternative development prospects for the infrastructure. The move comes amid broader discussions about cross-border engagement between India and Pakistan, with trade relations remaining strained following the 2019 suspension.