Qazi Ahmad, a civilian from Kamalkot, a nearby village in Uri sat and enjoyed a cup of tea at the newly opened cafeteria near Kaman Aman Setu. It is the last post of Indian Army in Uri sector of LoC in Kashmir.
A scenario like this couldn’t have even been imagined a few months back when the whole sector was tense with shells and mortars being exchanged between India and Pakistan.
Today, the Indian Army has thrown open a full-fledged cafeteria at this forward position. The Army says that it aims to give visitors a chance to experience how things are on the ground.
This comes at a time when India-Pakistan relations seem to be moving towards peace, particularly after the recent ceasefire agreement announced by two armies in February this year.
“We have opened the coffee shop for everyone visiting the Kaman Post for motivational purposes for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. After taking a selfie at the bridge, people can come and have snacks here and take home several souvenirs,” said Vishal Dev, Major, Indian Army.
A peek into the newly opened Army-run cafe
Local population in the region is joyous and sees this as yet another indicator of peace building, something that they have always longed for.
“After the division of two countries, people who were related and were friends, became distant. They were divided and always wanted peace to prevail so they can see each other. It is possible with peace. This cafeteria seems like a good beginning for better things. We are thankful for opening this cafeteria,” said Qazi Ahmad, a local.
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The Kaman Aman Setu post has served as a transit point for cross-LoC trade and travel between J&K and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The route has, however, been suspended since 2019.
Several traders, who were associated with the trade, have been suffering as this had a direct impact on their livelihood.
Estimates suggest close to 2,500 trader families were directly linked to the cross LoC trade and many others were indirectly associated with it in J&K. With indications of relations being built between India and Pakistan, locals are hopeful this would also mean resumption of cross LoC trade and travel.
“It is a good thing if peace prevails and trade should also open up. A lot of people were impacted after its closure. This will not only be a good news for the people of Uri but also the people of entire Kashmir,” says Faisal Ejaz, a resident of Uri.
On April 7, 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged the first cross-LoC bus titled ‘Karwaan-e-Aman’ from Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar towards Muzaffarabad.
The cafe is located near the Kaman Aman Setu in north Kashmir’s Uri.
Later, in 2008, the trade routes were opened as part of the confidence building measures between two sides. The routes connecting Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot were identified and established for the purpose of cross-LoC trade.
The relationship between India and Pakistan kept seeing ups and downs but this cross LoC trade survived its impact until 2019.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in April 2019 announced the suspension of the cross-LoC trade in Jammu and Kashmir. It cited “funnelling of illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency” as reasons for this big decision.
Later that year in August, the government of India also took another big step of removing the special status and dividing the erstwhile state of J&K into two union territories.
The relationship between India and Pakistan hit one of the lowest in many years after that decision. Ceasefire violations and violence across the line of control increased and tensions prevailed. It has only been this year that there seems to have been a break in that. And with such attempts, the hopes for lasting peace of these border residents have also heightened.
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