JK News Today Analysts

How can Pakistan be  a friend of Kashmiris , when militants armed and trained by it are killing the apple industry in the Valley with savage violence.

Militants are on a killing spree. In the last four days, they have killed three non- local traders and labourers associated with Apple industry in twin South Kashmir districts of Shopian and Pulwama dealing a body blow to the industry.

Militants killed a trader Çharanjit Singh from Abohar Punjab. His associate Sanjeev is struggling for life in  Srinagar hospital. Earlier, the militants had killed a truck driver Shafiq Khan from Rajasthan , and a migrant labourer from Chhattisgarh.

Pakistan cannot offer any solace to Kashmiris that its militants were killed non-locals and not Kashmiris. This is killing Kashmiris who depend on sale and export of their produce to places outside Valley. They have age old ties with the non- local traders and labourers, as they serve as a source in sustaining the apple industry.

This Rs. 10,000 crore industry sustains economy of the Valley  in a big way and generates employment, and more than that it brands Kashmir as much as Valley’s handicraft and tourism .

What Pakistan is doing is killing Kashmiri brand and the spirit of it. Militants have no regard for Kashmiris, their economy and the uniqueness with which they are blessed.