The Salamabad crossing point in Jammu & Kashmir's Poonch district has officially ceased functioning as a hub for cross-Line of Control trade, marking the end of an era for one of the two commercial corridors that once linked Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
According to officials, the responsibility for the Salamabad centre has been handed over to the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department, which will now manage the facility with a focus on developing it as a border tourism destination rather than a trade checkpoint.
Cross-LoC trade between Indian and Pakistani Kashmir began in 2008 as a confidence-building measure encouraged by peace dialogues between New Delhi and Islamabad. Under the arrangement, buses carried goods and passengers between the Salamabad and Chakothi crossings in Poonch district, and between the Uri and Muzaffarabad crossings in the Budgam area. These routes were intended to normalise ties and foster people-to-people contact despite the deep political rifts between the two nations.
However, the trade corridors were repeatedly suspended over the years, often during periods of heightened tension. The Uri attack in September 2016 led to a major suspension, and subsequent rounds of talks occasionally saw limited resumption. By 2023, cross-LoC trade had effectively remained dormant for extended stretches, with both sides citing security concerns.
The formal closure of the Salamabad trade chapter now reflects a strategic shift — instead of holding onto a symbolic infrastructure asset whose operational viability has long been questionable, Jammu & Kashmir authorities are pivoting to position the border crossing as a destination for tourists and pilgrims. The facility, which was constructed to serve traders and commercial transport, will now be redeveloped to accommodate visitors wanting to experience the border landscape and engage in heritage tourism.
Critics note that the move signals the final burial of the cross-LoC trade initiative, which was once hailed as a potential model for Indo-Pakistan economic engagement. Supporters, however, argue that redirecting resources toward tourism could bring more sustainable economic benefits to the local population of the Poonch region, which has long sought greater developmental attention.
