[Reader-list] Pak says no to Kashmir fruit

[Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्]

This is really funny. Someone out there is scripting a comedy. The
Valley of Kashmir is but a stage. Manto would have been proud of all
of us.

On 9/16/08, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
> "We are shocked to learn that fruits have been excluded from the list. Over
> 60 Kashmiris have laid down their lives for opening of cross-LoC trade. We
> are ready to offer more sacrifices for export of fruit. It is not merely a
> matter of business but our self-respect and identity," president of Kashmir
> Fruit Growers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat"
> http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=16_9_2008&ItemID=41&cat=1
>
> Srinagar, Sep 15: A day after fruit growers expressed dismay over the
> non-inclusion of Kashmir fruit in the list of items finalized for the
> cross-LoC trade, officials of the Jammu and Kashmir government put the ball
> in Pakistan's court on Monday saying that the other side had approved only a
> few items and fresh fruits are not included in the final list.
>  A top official of the Industry and Commerce department, wishing anonymity,
> told *Greater Kashmir*, " It seems that Pakistan has approved only a few
> items and they have refused to accept fresh fruit from Kashmir."
>  The official said that Pakistan's refusal has not been made public so far.
> "We are waiting for official communiqué from the union ministry," he added.
> Sources said that state government had forwarded a list of 26 items to
> Pakistan for approval. The items included carpets, wall hangings, papier
> machie, shawls, crewel embroidery, Kashmiri woolen products, cricket bats,
> silk, Kashmiri dry fruits, Kashmiri wazwan (special food delicacies),
> basmati rice, fresh fruits, black mushroom, red kidney beans and green tea
> besides other items.
>  "We are in touch with the officials from other side and are trying to
> ascertain why they are refusing to include other items proposed by us. So
> far we haven't received any communiqué from their side," said another
> official.
>  He said that excluding fresh fruit from the list could hamper the prospects
> of opening this road for trade.
>  President of Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir, Shakeel Qalandar
> said, "We had sent a list of 65 items from our side, but we were told that
> Pakistan may consider importing only 23 items from this side."
> Qalanadar said that if Pakistan government approves only a few items then
> opening of Srinagar- Muzaffarabad Road for trade won't serve any purpose.
> "It will be then just a symbolic gesture."
>  Meanwhile, an official spokesman today said that the list of items
> forwarded by India to Pakistan includes fruits, both fresh and dry. List is
> awaiting approval from Pakistan.
>  The spokesman said that the lists of items for cross-LoC trade had since
> been exchanged between India and Pakistan. However, the approval of the
> Government of Pakistan was awaited, he added.
>  Fruit growers in the Kashmir Valley suffered huge loses this year due to
> the economic blockade over land row. The growers were first to demand
> opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road for trade as most of their yield
> turned into a rot this year.
>  "We are shocked to learn that fruits have been excluded from the list. Over
> 60 Kashmiris have laid down their lives for opening of cross-LoC trade. We
> are ready to offer more sacrifices for export of fruit. It is not merely a
> matter of business but our self-respect and identity," president of Kashmir
> Fruit Growers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, had told *Greater Kashmir *on
> Sunday
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