Punjab: BSF helps Pakistani farmers at Attari

Atari (Punjab) [India], Apr 22 (ANI): Putting aside the strained ties between India and Pakistan, the Border Security Force (BSF) deployed in Punjab's Atari sector extended a beautiful gesture by helping Pakistani farmers on Saturday after wheat harvested by them flew across border due to strong winds. The Pakistani farmers have been harvesting their crops at the border under the strict supervision of the BSF, whose personnel stand guard and ensure the process goes on unobstructed. Interestingly, the farming is being done in the same area which is notorious for cross-border drug smuggling, which is why the BSF jawans personally supervise the harvesting, and often extend their help to the farmers. In order to ensure maximum ease to the farmers, the BSF opens the border gate at 8 a.m. to give access to the farmers and the workers continue to harvest the crop till 6:30 p.m. This is done throughout the week, under tight security. The gesture comes as a welcome one between the hostile neighbors, who are currently embroiled in a fierce diplomatic war over the sentencing of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan. Surprisingly, trade between India and Pakistan has being strong since the beginning of the current fiscal year, despite the accelerating rate of diplomatic tension between the hostile neighbors. A State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) report has revealed that Pakistan grew its exports to India during the first eight months of 2016-17 while curtailing imports by 23 per cent, however, the trade balance remains in favour of India, reports Dawn. It comes as a pleasant surprise that the worsening political relations, which have taken another hit following the sentencing of Jadhav by Pakistan, seem to have little impact on bilateral trade relations. (ANI)