Escalating tension along the border, increased ISI activity, an end to hopes of cross-border trade, slowdown in foreign investment and reduced NRI funding for the Khalsa tricentenary are the major Akali concerns. For decades, successive state governments have been hoping for cross-border trade between the two Punjabs. Besides easy access to markets in Pakistan, this could also widen opportunities of overland trade with Afghanistan, Iran and central Asia. The Akalis have in fact been charging the Centre with deliberately preventing cross-border trade at the behest of political heavyweights with shipping interests who have no desire to see their business hit by overland trade. At the slightest excuse, the Akalis rued, the Centre clamps down on border trade. With a BJP government in place, it was hoped that curbs would be relaxed. Already, truckloads of potatoes are sent into Pakistan from Punjab and there is a market for other agricultural commodities as well. "For small trade volumes, this is far more economical," said a government offi-cial. He pointed out that Japanese-aided projects which were in the pipeline might be stalled and foreign investment curtailed.