Pakistan's readiness to grant 'Most-Favoured Nation' trading status to India and the opening of new 'cross-border' trade routes in Kashmir had sent a message to insurgent leaders like his Hizbul Mujahideen that "Pakistan wants business with India." Pakistan has long used group's like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar e Toiba as part of its proxy war with India over control of Kashmir, with military protection for their training camps in 'Azad' or 'Free' Kashmir.