An effort was being made by some elements to try and project that there have been delays on the part of the Government in the process of commencement of cross LoC trade, the Home Ministry said in a statement.

"The facts are otherwise, and Government has been assiduously pursuing the matter as would be seen from the position brought out earlier and has, in fact, suggested further cross LoC Confidence Building Measures which will continue to be pursued with Pakistan," the statement said while hoping the people in the state will not be influenced by misleading propaganda.

The baseless propaganda has disrupted peace and normalcy of the state, the daily lives of people including education of the children, supplies of basic day to day commodities, normal business and other activities including tourism – the mainstays of the economy of the state, it said.

"As a part of the Composite Dialogue with Pakistan, and Confidence Building Measures, the Government has taken the initiative to facilitate travel of persons across the LoC along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes. To build further on these initiatives, as early as on April 15, 2005 it had been agreed with Pakistan that truck services across the LoC would also be initiated to promote trade," the statement said and clarified ‘India is ready to commence cross-LoC trade, but awaits Pakistani willingness to implement the agreement reached in April 2005’.

The statement from the Home Ministry came in the wake of reports of alleged ‘economic blockade’ of the Kashmir Valley and demands that the route to Muzaffarabad, across the Line of Control (LoC), should be opened for trade.

"In the process, elements who have been opposed to normalisation of situation in the sensitive state, have got an opportunity to misguide the people," it said.

The statement said there was some disruption of goods along the national highway during the ongoing agitation over the Amarnath land row which had been removed now.

"Not only have these disruptions been cleared, but it has also been categorically stated that free movement along the national highway will be ensured. In fact there have been no bottlenecks after some initial disruptions for three to four days. Unfortunately, due to calls for bandhs and other protests in the Valley, despite the fact that the highway is through, there have been difficulties in full and free movement of goods and traffic," the statement said.

This was being exploited by some vested interests to raise demands and slogans for opening the cross LoC route for trade and movement of goods, it said.

Giving details of New Delhi's attempt to increase trade across the LoC, it said the two sides (India and Pakistan) had agreed that delegations from Chambers of Commerce from either side of the LoC would undertake visits at the earliest to discuss various aspects of the trade.