A New Cafe Has Come Up At LOC In Kashmir's Uri And It Brings Hope For Peace, Tourism

What comes first in our mind whenever we hear of the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K? It definitely is not a cafe but things are changing for good as one can get to enjoy a cup of coffee at the LoC in J&K¡¯s Uri sector and experience being on ground zero.

Mohd Razak Khan, 48, owner of the army-run caf¨¦ along the Line of Control (LoC) at Kaman Post (also known as Aman Setu), the last post on this side of LoC in north Kashmir¡¯s Uri, has high hopes of peace and tourism now.

¡°Since the caf¨¦ has been thrown open by the Army at the LoC which at a moment looks impossible, but I believe that this human friendly gesture will truly invite peace and tourism to the border town,¡± says Khan, an ex-serviceman of Indian Army.

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Cafe Freedom

On May 18, the local Veer Naris (Martyr widows) of Indian Army inaugurated a full-fledged cafeteria named ¡®Caf¨¦ Freedom¡¯ at Kaman Post with an aim to allow the people to visit the forward post to see the ground situation themselves. The Army has also installed a majestic 60 feet flag pole on which the national flag flutters magnificently and one can also take souvenirs home as the memory of their border visit.

¡°It is a proud moment for us that Veer Naris inaugurated this caf¨¦ who has sacrificed everything for the country,¡± said Major Vishal Dev of Indian Army in Uri.

Khan, a native of LoC village Uroosa in Uri has himself witnessed intense shelling and cross-border firing but now wants peace. ¡°I had taken up the plan to start a caf¨¦ here at LoC and the Army agreed to it. They have given me a space to earn my livelihood again,¡± he said.

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He said that is expecting a huge flow of locals and visitors once the COVID lockdown is over. ¡°The entry to this area is exempted as of now due to the surge in COVID cases but this coffee shop will boost the relations between the valley people and Army,¡± he said.

Opening caf¨¦ at LoC, a major achievement

Being a border town and highly fortified, the opening of the caf¨¦ is seen as the major development as it is believed that the move will lead to better ties between both countries.

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Locals in Uri told India Times that opening of caf¨¦ could have been taken after the February 25 decision wherein India and Pakistan agreed to ceasefire along LoC. ¡°We welcome the opening of the cafeteria by the Army at LoC but we hope that this will bring the peace along too,¡± says Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a local RTI activist.

Demand for resumption of cross-LoC trade, bus service

Mohd Shafi Wathloo, Chairman Market Association Uri says that newly established caf¨¦ at LoC can play a crucial role to bring peace along the both sides. ¡°This act of the Army is a sign of positivity and has signaled that the soldiers on this side of LoC want better relations and are waiting for the response of the other side. Resumption of the cross- LoC trade will also help the cafeteria to run its business smoothly as the drivers from other side of LoC would stop at Kaman Post for the food,¡± he said.

Cafe opening means a lot

Chairman cross-LoC Trade Salamabad-Uri Hilal Turkey said that the Army¡¯s move will definitely open the doors of cross-LoC trade. ¡°Since we are aware about the situation of the LoC and one fears going to such places, opening a caf¨¦ there means a lot. It will help in building peace, generating employment and will pave way for the reopening of the trade route too,¡± he hoped.

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Estimating the cost incurred due to the suspension of cross-LoC trade, Turkey said, ¡°An annual loss of about INR 40 crore has been incurred by different stakeholders along the Uri-Muzaffarabad route in the last two years.¡±

Reyaz Ahmad Budoo, a resident of Garkote village of Uri whose brother is married in Muzaffrabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) said that resumption of cross-LoC bus service will boost tourism at Kaman. ¡°The guests from PoK will be getting a warm welcome by the Army at the cafeteria and will sit over to have some food. This facility will definitely fascinate the guests,¡± he said.

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As part of the Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between India and Pakistan, cross-LoC bus service, trade was started in 2005 and 2008 respectively via Kaman Post but both are suspended till date. The bus service was suspended following the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019 and while as trade on 18 April 2019 reportedly after the misuse of arms and drug smugglers.

To make it a major attraction

An Army official at Uri told India Times that they have set up this caf¨¦ for the public. ¡°We want to make the spot as the major attraction for the visitors who besides overlooking the other side of LoC, taking selfies, can also relish the coffee and snacks too,¡± he said.

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He said that they have been organizing the motivational tours for the schools and colleges to this forward post. ¡°We guide them on the importance of this place and give them a chance to see the other side of the border,¡± he said.

¡°Once the COVID lockdown will be over, the spot will open for people who wish to visit here after opting for the necessary permission from the Uri Brigade,¡± he said adding, ¡°People will get to see the ground situation themselves.¡±

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Abid Fareed, a 1st year student of Degree College Uri who visited the caf¨¦ said, ¡°I visited the place after a gap of three years but we always had a wonderful experience of being there. New caf¨¦ has added life to the place.¡±

Kaman Post has been named after Late Lieutenant Colonel Kaman Singh Pathania, MVC, is the first post of Indian Army on National Highways 1A. The post is among one of highest military posts in India and both the countries are separated by the peace bridge.