Integrated check post on the attic border of Amritsar.
After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government has announced to immediately shut down the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP), the only ground route of trade with Pakistan. 28 tourists were killed in this attack. India Pakistan with this decision
.
Today there is silence on the attic check post. This decision was taken by the Cabinet Security Committee on Wednesday, which was made public by Foreign Secretary Vikram Egypt. Foreign Secretary Egyptian had said that passengers who have already gone to Pakistan by this route with valid documents will be allowed to return by 1 May 2025.
After that this route will be completely closed. Before today, there used to be long queues on this check post since morning. Due to which people from India to Pakistan and Pakistani citizens were seen standing in long queues to return to their country.
Citizens of both countries could come first by the attic route. (File photos)
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Attari is located just 28 km from Amritsar and is the first ground port in India. It is also the only valid ground route of trade with Pakistan. This check post is spread over 120 acres and is directly connected to National Highway-1. It is also an important route for goods coming from Afghanistan.
71 thousand passengers crossed in 2023-24
During the year 2023-24, a trade of ₹ 3,886.53 crore was recorded from Attari Land Port. There was 6,871 cargo movement and 71,563 passenger crossings.
The major goods exported from this route from India include soybeans, chicken feeds, vegetables, red chillies, plastic grains and plastic yarn. At the same time, major goods coming from Pakistan and Afghanistan in India include dry fruits, date-date, gypsum, cement, glass, rock salt and various types of herbs.
The group of Sikh devotees, who used to go to Pakistan Gurudham, used to leave this route. (File photos)
Crisis on small traders
This check post will affect small traders, artisans and small scale industries who depend on this route. Business relations between India and Pakistan have already been reduced since the Pulwama attack and this decision is considered to be another major setback in this regard.
Afghan trade is also impacted
The goods that come from Afghanistan from Afghanistan from the Attari-Wagah route comes via Pakistan. Now when this route is closing, it will not be able to reach the goods on time. This will cause problems in bringing goods and the general process of business can also be affected.