New Delhi/Srinagar:
After being detained for more than three weeks in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), 27 Indian trucks returned this evening to North Kashmir as India and Pakisatn agreed to end the stand-off which began after the arrest of a PoK driver on January 17.
As many as 27 Indian trucks and 48 trucks of PoK, which had been held up at Salamabad since the stand-off, crossed over to their respective areas at Kaman post at Uri in North Kashmir from 7 PM to 7.30 PM, official sources said.
However, one truck, along with its driver, will continue to remain in the custody of Jammu and Kashmir police. He was arrested for allegedly ferrying 114 packets of brown sugar worth Rs 100 crore in international market in his vehicle and based on his interrogation two more persons were arrested from Bandipore in North Kashmir.
According to the sources, Pakistan finally agreed not to insist on its demand for release of the arrested driver and his vehicle as the Indian side made it clear that he will have to face the law.
However, there is uncertainty over resumption of cross-border trade, the sources said.
Cross-border trade was suspended from January 18, a day after Jammu and Kashmir police seized a truck coming from PoK, saying it was carrying 114 packets of brown sugar.
The matter was taken up at diplomatic and other levels to find a solution.
PoK authorities had stated that it will release the Indian trucks only after the seized truck, along with the driver, and drugs were let off by the J&K authorities.
As the deadlock continued, Pakistan suspended cross-border bus service also until its demands were met. This was later resumed on February 3.
Pakistan's acting High Commissioner was summoned by the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi on January 21 in connection with the suspension of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot-Poonch bus services by Pakistan.
External Affairs spokesperson had said that India has repeatedly emphasised to Pakistan to allow the full resumption of travel and trade across the LoC and to hold an immediate meeting of the Trade Facilitation Officers at Kaman so that both sides can exchange information with regard to the narcotic seizures made.
"We regret the fact that for the sake of a drug trafficker caught red handed smuggling narcotics into India, the Pakistani authorities have continued to refuse to allow the resumption of trans-LoC travel and trade that brings great benefits to the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir," he had said.