ur-Rehman, PML-N President Javaid Hashmi and MQM Acknowledgements leader Begum Nasreen Jalil, from Pakistan; National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, BJP President Shri irst of all acknowledgements of those mighty and not Naidu, Congress President Madam Sonia Gandhi, CPI-M Fso mighty but very dear friends across the General Secretary Harkishan Surjeet, RJD Chief Laloo subcontinent, who have made the First Session of this Prasad Yadav, Smajwadi Party President Mulayam Sing Pakistan-India Parliamentarians and public opinion Yadav, National Congress President Sharad Pawar and Mr leaders' assembly possible.Paswan from India.

This Indo-Pak assembly could not have taken place, had Above all this was an all out team effort by our two SAFMA SAFMA Pakistan and India not been given the support by Chapters in Pakistan and India, especially by Mr K. K. the major parliamentary parties, especially the ruling Katyal, President SAFMA India, Vinod Sharma, Vice Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida President SAFMA India, Sushant Sareen, General Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Pakistan People’s Party-Secretary SAFMA India, Dileep Podgaonkar, Vice Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Pakistan Muslim League-President SAFMA India, my friend Shri K. R. Malkani, in Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), particular, and from SAFMA Pakistan its President M. Awami National Party, Millat Party, Balochistan National Ziauddin, General Secretary Mustansar Javed, Aroosa Party (BNP), Pakthtun Khwa Milli Awami Party, Alam, Sirmed Manzoor and others.Balochistan National Movement (BNM) and Jamhoori

Watan Party (JWP).It is pertinent to mention here that it was Mir Shakil-ur-

Similarly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Rehman who in fact helped in founding SAFMA and its

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Rashtriya first conference in Islamabad in July 2000, besides

Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party, Samata Party, Telugu holding the first Indo-Pak Parliamentary conference

Desam Party (TDP), AIADMK, Communist Party of India under the banner of The News in Islamabad in 1999. Most

(CPI), National Congress Party, Rashtriya Swayemsewak importantly, it is due to the sponsorship of NORAD and

Sangh (RSS), Shiromani Akali Dal, and others extended technical assistance from the UNDP that SAFMA has been

full cooperation. able to take so many initiatives in this year.I will be ungrateful if I especially do not thank Mr Onder Most importantly, I personally thank Foreign Minister Yucer, the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Mian Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri, President of PML-Q Pakistan, for his most valuable support to SAFMA. Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, PPP Chair-person Ms

Imtiaz Alam,Benazir Bhutto, MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazal-

Secretary General SAFMA

i

1

2

4

7

8

10

13

15

15

16

20

22

Abbreviations Sense of the House

Meeting of heartsNo confrontation M. ZiauddinPrime Minister of IndiaPresident SAFMA Pakistan Atal Behari Vajpayee

Unusually excitingFor dialogue

K. K. KatyalPresident of Congress

President SAFMA India Sonia Gandhi

Indo-Pak imbroglioOffering an olive branch An alternative view

President General Pervez Musharraf Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General SAFMA

Peace and only peace Building parliamentarians' solidarityPrime Minister of Pakistan Chaudhary Ameer Hussain, Zafarullah Khan Jamali Speaker of National Assembly Pakistan

A road map for peace Speeches in Opening Ceremony Benazir Bhutto Ch. Shujaat Hussain, President ruling PML-QChairperson Pakistan People's Party Anadi Charan Sahu, MP, BJP

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, General Secretary MMAMargaret Alva, MP, Indian National CongressFarooq Ahmed Leghari, President Millat PartyOverview of the conferenceRam Vilas Paswan, President Lok JanshaktiSadaf ArshadLaloo Prasad Yadav, President RJDEditor Publications Javaid Hashmi, Acting President PML-NMoinul Hassan, MP, CPI-M

August 10-11, Islamabad, Pakistan

Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists & Experts ConferenceUnderstanding, Confidence-building, Conflict-resolution

29

29

35

37

44

50

53

Edited by: Ms. Sadaf Arshad, Editor PublicationsDesigned by: DESIGN 8

Printed by: ImpactPublished by: South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA)

Central Secretariat SAFMA 09-Lower Ground, Eden Heights, Jail Road, Lahore. Pakistan.Tel: 092-42-5879251-54; Fax: 092-42-5879254;

E-mail: safma@hotmail.com; www.southasianmedia.net

Syed Safwan Ullah, MNA, MQM Balbir Punj, MP, BJPSenator Illiyas Bilour, ANP Sarla Maheshwari, MP, CPI-M Ramji Lal Suman, MP, SP Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, Senior EditorK. E. Krishnamaurthy, MP, TDP S. Nihal Singh, Senior EditorSwaraj Kaushal, MP, HVP Reazuddin Ahmed, President SAFMASenator Sanaullah Baloch, BNP

A better tomorrowChief Minister of the Punjab Ch. Parvez ElahiSession-I, Understanding Positions

Speeches by the Indian and Pakistani delegates

People to bring peaceSession-II: Confidence-building Measures Asma Jehangir

About confidence building Maulanas welcome peaceS. Nihal Singh Chief Minister Akram Durrani's Reception

Speeches by the Indian and A tribute to Shri Malkani jiPakistani delegates

Imtiaz Alam

Session-III: Conflict Resolution Speeches by the Indian and Pakistani delegates Glimpses

SAFMA builds bridgesForeign Minister Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri

Speeches in the Concluding Session bySherry Rehman, MNA, PPP -PMani Shankar Aiyar, MP, INC Ishaq Khan Khakawani, MNA, PML-Q

57

59

60

61

62

Pakistan

PML (Q) Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam)

PPP-P Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians

MMA Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal

MP Millat Party

PML -N Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)

MQM Muttahida Qaumi Movement

ANP Awami National Party

BNP Balochistan National Party

PML-J Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo)

BNM Balochistan National Movement

PKMAP Pukhtoon Khwa Milli Awami Party

PPPP-P Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (Patriot)

PML (Z) Pakistan Muslim League (Zia)

India

BJP Bharatiya Janata Party

INC Indian National Congress

RJD Rashtriya Janta Dal

CPI-M Communist Party of India-Marxist

SP Samajwadi Party

TDP Telugu Desam Party

HVP Haryana Vikas Party

CPI Communist Party of India

DMK Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam

BSP Bahujan Samaj Party

RSS Rashtriya Swayemsewak Sangh

AIADMK All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

NC National Conference

Abbreviations

i

am happy at the opportunity to send this message to a Idistinguished and representative group of Members of Parliament, journalists, analysts and writers from India and Pakistan, who have gathered under the banner of the South Asian Free Media Association. The meeting and the themes for discussion are a forceful reiteration of the popular desire in both our countries for a normal, peaceful, friendly and cooperative relationship.Our two peoples, at different levels, and in their own ways, have contributed further meaning and content to my initiative from Srinagar on April 18, to once again extend India's hand of friendship to Pakistan. We must use this common yearning for greater interaction to lessen the misperceptions and mistrust between us.Cooperation, rather than confrontation, is the answer to our common problems of development and poverty alleviation. Violence and bloodshed cannot provide any enduring solutions. We can live together only if we let each other live.Globalisation has today brought together nations of diverse historical, geographical and ethnic backgrounds. From the most developed to the poorest regions of the world, regional associations and economic groupings are being formed to tackle developmental challenges and environmental problems. Sub-regional alliances have become the building blocks of a multi-polar world. India and Pakistan should heed these winds of change in today's world.We should not defy logic and distort reality to avoid mutually beneficial cooperation. We cannot deny our people their right to peaceful and cooperative economic development. If your meetings and deliberations can encourage a movement towards such a cooperative future for our two countries, they would serve a noble cause.

Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee

MessageMessage

Not confrontation

1

am glad to learn that the South Asian Free Media Association is Iholding its conference in Islamabad. The Congress party has been committed to having cordial and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan. We have been in favour of a dialogue between the two countries for resolving all contentious issues. The Simla Agreement signed by Smt Indira Gandhi and the late Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the 2nd July 1972, provides the framework within which the two countries can discuss and build a durable friendly relationship.

Bearing this in mind, the Congress party welcomed the initiative of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to resume talks with the government of Pakistan. However, for a conducive atmosphere for having meaningful talks or negotiations, it is essential that cross border terrorism must cease.

In Jammu & Kashmir, free and fair elections were held last year and the people exercised their franchise in large numbers. These elections were hailed by almost all countries in the world as a striking example of democratic functioning.

The Congress party is a partner in the government of Jammu & Kashmir headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The SAFMA conference provides a good occasion for building confidence between our two countries and peoples. It will, I am confident, create the desired atmosphere for improving relations between India and Pakistan.

For dialogue

Leader of Opposition,Sonia Gandhi

President of Congress, India

Message

2

Photo session of a happy Indian Delegation with President Pervez Musharraf at the Presidency Photo session of a happy Indian Delegation with President Pervez Musharraf at the Presidency

3

(SAFMA) at the presidency, General Musharraf expressed a measure of flexibility on the possibility of finding a solution to the Kashmir dispute beyond the stated official positions. In response to a query by Balbir Punj, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP, about how to solve the Kashmir issue while stating his party's position that the BJP also considered the Kashmir issue as a stumbling block in the way of normalisation of relations, the President said that the two sides will have to retreat from their stated

resident Pervez Musharraf offered an immediate ceasefire on the LoC positions and there are certain solutions that can offer a “win-win” Pand showed his willingness to facilitate it in the valley, if India alternative to the three parties to the conflict, including the Kashmiris, reciprocates by releasing Kashmiri prisoners, allowing free movement of while repeating his four-point roadmap to solve the major irritant.Kashmiri leaders, reducing forces and ending military operations. The President emphasised the need for burying the past and starting a Elaborating on the facilitation of a ceasefire in the valley, the President dialogue on all issues without, however, sidelining the Kashmir issue, in said that no guarantee is possible since it is not in his control. However, the response to the suggestion of Vijendra Paul, the BJP MP, who had influence of various elements can be used in persuading the freedom expressed his dismay over break-up of talks in the past and their revival fighters to respond if India assures to reciprocate by taking appropriate from square one. measures he went on to identify. He, however, expressed his disappointment over the fact that the In a one and half hour two-way discourse with the Indian MPs, experts, negotiation process has not yet started, even at the level of foreign editors, and office-bearers of South Asian Free Media Association secretaries, whereas the process of normalisation is moving at a snail pace.

Excerpts from President General Pervez Musharraf's address

Offering olive brancholive branchan

4

SAFMA delegation briefs the PresidentSAFMA delegation briefs the President Indian Members of Parliament making it a memorable occasionIndian Members of Parliament making it a memorable occasion

5

President offers a hand of friendship to Laloo Parsad YadavPresident offers a hand of friendship to Laloo Parsad Yadav Not missing yet another photo opportunityNot missing yet another photo opportunity

Expressing his suspicion, he said, perhaps the Indian side is not keen to Showing his pleasure over having an interaction for the first time with expedite the process of revival of talks and come to grip with the major issue such a large group of Indian parliamentarians and journalists, the (Kashmir). President unequivocally supported the efforts to improve people-to-people Presenting himself as man of peace, the President said while fighting the contacts, including the initiative taken by SAFMA. He, however, said two wars against India he has seen the horrors of war from very close and they are not substitute for talks at the official level.lost his dearest friend, besides many, after whom he had named his son. It On lifting the ban on Indian TV channels in Pakistan, General Musharraf was music to President's ears when Mani Shankar Aiyar, the Congress proposed that the two sides should first stop the hate campaign. He, MP, reiterated the Indian position that India admits Kashmir is an issue however, ordered the relevant officials on the spot to allow visa to Indian and wants to discuss its resolution with Pakistan. Mr Aiyar suggested an journalists without delay while complaining that the Pakistani journalists integrated, uninterruptible, productive and composite dialogue to address are not being given visas and access to the Indian leadership.

The President promised to consider positively the suggestion of SAFMA all issues that the 'Sense of the House' issued by Indo-Pak delegation that five year countrywide visas, free from police reporting, for Parliamentarians, Journalists and Experts conference had also journalists with ten years of professional standing should be granted and emphasised.

SAFMA's 'Protocol on Free Movement of Media-persons and Media- considered.Talking to The News a Trinamool Congress MP, Dinesh Trivedi, said that products Across the South Asian region' be placed on the agenda of the 12th he has turned into his fan. Mani Shankar Aiyar remarked that he is very SAARC Summit.

On the third party facilitation, the President said bilateralism cannot work straightforward and forthcoming. Expressing his appreciation for the between the weak and stronger and proposed that SAARC should be able response of the President to the suggestions of Indian MPs, Mr Surendra to handle the conflicts among its members. The President responded to all Arora, who presides the BJP's foreign affairs cell, said he is very frank and questions very positively in a very congenial atmosphere. To Laloo Prasad does not mince words, like diplomats, in responding to any question.

The President was introduced to the Indian delegates to the SAFMA Yadav's suggestion that divided families should be allowed visas and the conference by Vinod Kumar Sharma, Vice President of SAFMA, India. facility to travel by rail should be resumed,General Musharraf agreed to After his discourse with the Indian MPs and journalists, General take steps from Pakistan's side. He also assured Sardar Zora Singh Mann, Musharraf mixed with the guests and happily photographed with them.the Shiromani Akali Dal MP, that the Sikh temples and their holiest

shrines are being renovated and his proposal to engage Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandh Committee in the unkeep of gurdwaras can be

6

Sharing a memories with Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi Sharing a memories with Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi A mix of SAFMA office-bearers and Indian MPs with the PresidentA mix of SAFMA office-bearers and Indian MPs with the President

rime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali hosted a lunch in honour of Pthe participants of the conference on August 11 at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. Leading members of parliament and leaders of almost all major political parties attended this lunch along with the Indian parliamentarians, experts and journalists. The Prime Minister received the delegates and talked to the Indian parliamentarians in an informal and cordial manner. After the banquet, Prime Minister Jamali felicitated the

issue. guests and made brief remarks on the occasion. Excerpts as follow: As a big brother, he asked the Indian leadership to show greater flexibility Welcoming the Indian guests, and appreciating South Asian Free Media and magnanimity but hastened to add the principle of equality in Association (SAFMA), Mr Zafarullah Jamali asked the Indian MPs to developing relations between the two countries.kindly convey his message of friendship and goodwill to Prime Minister The Prime Minister stressed the importance of people-to-people contacts to Atal Behari Vajpayee. He emphasised that 'Pakistan wants peace and only develop amity and understanding that will, in turn, help in resolving the peace' while reminding the guests, however, not to forget the Kashmir outstanding issues at the official level. He said problems and issues never come to an end in the world, but one should not get burdened with them or allow them to become a cause for tension and try to handle them with wisdom.Mr Jamali expressed Pakistan's willingness to discuss all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, with India.The best way to address the problems, he said, was to sit together and resolve them. He said Pakistan wants early resumption of talks with India and for this purpose it was ready to negotiate all the issues. By resolving the controversial issues that hamper progress, he observed, we would be doing a huge service to this region and close to one and a half billion people. Extending his good wishes to the people of India, he asked the visiting Indian delegates to convey his message of peace and love to them. He said that everybody would love to have good neighbourly relations with the neighbours.

Peace Peace

Joining hands with Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Shri Laloo Parasad Yadavmakes Prime Minister to coalesce in

Joining hands with Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Shri Laloo Parasad Yadavmakes Prime Minister to coalesce in

Round-table (luncheon) conference between the Prime Minister & leading members of the two parliaments

Round-table (luncheon) conference between the Prime Minister & leading members of the two parliaments

peace peace & only

Excerpts from

Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali's address

& only

7

SAPTA are all products of a democratic government led by the Pakistan People’s Party in Pakistan. In fact, troops withdrawl from Siachin as mutual troop reduction could have taken place in 1990 were democracy in Pakistan not destabilised then. Fourth, it is a welcome development that since the Cyprus talks in 1993, both India and Pakistan agreed to treat Kashmir as a separate agenda item. This shows that while the two countries have differing perceptions on the Jammu and Kashmir, they are willing to put the issue on the negotiating table to discuss without holding the gamut of Indo-Pak relations subject to the agenda. We believe that although India and Pakistan are key protagonists to the Kashmir dispute, it is imperative to include the Kashmiri people in the consultative process. The PPP welcomes the initiative taken for a ceasefire between the Indian military and militants as well as the invitation to unconditional talks to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders issued some years back. PPP believes that genuine representation in the valley is possible if political detainees in the valley are freed, human rights conditionalities are duly observed.Fifth, the reciprocity principle is an important factor for both India and Pakistan to minimise incursions by non-state actors into the disputed areas, as well as t is the pivotal moment in history of the people of South Asia at the dawn of new demilitarise the valley under agreed procedures.Imillennium that the impetus for peace is at our doorstep once again. I believe The simultaneous pursuit of such measures can generate its own momentum in

sustainable peace is possible with true democracy. The 1989 agreement signed Kashmir. A Line of Control that is geographically disputed could transform itself into

between India and Pakistan under my stewardship in this very city, is a testament to a socially agreed area where without prejudice to the views of India and Pakistan on

the People’s Party’s commitment to conflict management in the region.the Kashmir dispute, the people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the Line of After the Simla Agreement signed between Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Control could be socially united. This could create a soft-border zone of peace and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Islamabad protocols were the first serious attempt trade-driven prosperity. between India and Pakistan to forge a working relationship that still endures the test Sixth, confidence-building measures can be expanded to travel and travel facilitation,

of time. Every great movement in history comes with a vision. The Pakistan People's such as introduced by PPP government in 1988 at the SAARC meeting, for visa free

Party enunciated its vision with the Benazir Bhutto doctrine in 1988. This doctrine travel for parliamentarians and judges. Categories could be expanded enabling

flows from the spirit of Simla in 1972.greater level and association without red tapism and bureaucracy.It envisages conflict management to enable the countries of South Asia to emulate the Seventh, the extensive work done by the PPP government in 1988 with its Indian

emerging markets of the world by working together to promote trade and commerce counterparts on issues of free trade can be implemented. Such implementation

through common tariffs and measures that can alleviate poverty as it builds peace and includes sports, cultural and media swaps institutionalised with a revival of SAARC

understanding. frameworks such as SAPTA and SAFTA. India and Pakistan can take the lead in As two nuclear states, we carry the responsibility to minimise tension that can lead to establishing the South Asian Environmental Commission as a mechanism for the dangers of war. As representatives of one-fifth of humanity, we can rescue our regional resource conservation and calamity management. people from the poverty trap, steering our region towards a South Asian peace The same body can double as an informal coalition of South Asian advocacy for

dividend. According to the Bhutto Doctrine, we need to replace the infrastructure of climate change and environmental rights discourse at global and multilateral UN

war with the architecture of peace. How do we do that?forums. A similar institution for women and minority rights can be considered.First, we establish trust between the two countries by bringing public opinion through Eighth, in the new international environment, the SAARC countries could also

representative leaders to the negotiating table. Agreements by unelected consult each other on important global issues.

representatives are hostages to blowback, an unfortunate legacy of the last half Ninth, and finally, its time to jettison the cold-war paradigm for a new security

century or more. framework investing in people instead of Weapons of Mass Destruction. I dream of a

Second, legitimate political governments, sensitive to international movement, are South Asia free of the threat of a nuclear holocaust, rescuing its people from the jaws

less likely to lead their countries into operations like Kargil which nearly brought our of despair that poverty breeds, equipping its youth with high quality education

two countries to a nuclear impasse.enabling future generations to compete with the best and the brightest in the rest of Third, substantive agreements such as the return of 90,000 prisoners of war, the the world giving pride and joy to every South Asian family. return of occupied territory, the end of the war crime trials, nuclear confidence I dream of triumph of democracy, pluralism, tolerance, understanding and

building, military CBMs like the use of hotlines between DGMOs established in 1989, accommodation in our region trusting in your ability to make history.

the exchange of nuclear site-information and the passage and the ratification of

Ms Benazir BhuttoChairperson Pakistan People’s Party

A road map peacepeacefor

8

MessageMessage

From the broad lense inaugural session

9

By Ms.Sadaf ArshadOverview of the conferenceOverview of the conferencet was not an easy job to bring together the elected leadership of all major Alam (see page 16). 'Indo-Pak Imbroglio: An Alternative View' was well Ipolitical parties of the subcontinent while involving the leading media received by the delegates and set the tone of the conference. Messages from

persons and experts. The timing of the conference was, however, quite Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee (see page 1), Congress party conducive to the SAFMA initiative after the revival of normalisation process President Madam Sonia Gandhi (see page 2) and Chairperson of Pakistan initiated by the two prime ministers. Two SAFMA chapters of Pakistan and People's Party Ms Benazir Bhutto (see page 8) were read by their party India, who met in Dhaka, took the responsibility to organise this conference leaders. The messages were an expression of goodwill and support for proposed by the SAFMA Central Secretariat. This became possible due to the SAFMA's peace initiative.

In open public view and facing media from all over the world, the leading support from the political leadership across all divides, besides the representatives of the parties reiterated their parties' respective positions facilitation provided by the establishment and the Foreign Minister of while, of course, keeping in line with the theme and spirit of the conference Pakistan.

The objective was to build support for the peace process across the peace. What was most important about this session was that a monolithic party/country divides, develop understanding among the elected myth about the two sides was shattered since different political parties representatives of the people, explore areas of confidence-building and differed with the official positions on more than one count. An overwhelming evaluate different options for conflict-management and conflict-resolution. consensus was on the resolution of conflict and differences through peaceful The whole exercise was designed to bring the peace question on the agenda of means of a sustainable dialogue without conditions.

Those who spoke in the 'Opening Ceremony' were: Ch. Shujaat Hussain, mainstream politics and the mainstream media that was, in fact, President ruling PML-Q; Makhdoom Amin Fahim, President PPP-P; Anadi overwhelmingly achieved, given the level of participation, massive media Charan Sahu, MP BJP; Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, General Secretary MMA; coverage and response from the people. Packaged with it were the behind-Smt. Margaret Alva, MP, INC; Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, former the-doors deliberations among a cross-section of public representatives and president of Pakistan and President of Millat Party; Laloo Prasad Yadav, opinion leaders.

This was first of its kind of parliamentarians' conference with a mix of leading President of RJD; Javaid Hashmi, acting President of PML-N; Moinul journalists and experts. With such a broad and all-sided representation of Hassan, MP, CPI-M; Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilour, ANP; Ram Vilas Paswan, almost all parliamentary parties, represented in both the houses of two President of Lok Janshakti; Syed Safwan Ullah, Federal Minister, MNA, parliaments, the conference assumed the significance of an Indo-Pak MQM; Ramji Lal Suman, MP, SP; K. E.Krishnamaurthy, MP, TDP; Swaraj parliament. Successfully held on August 10-11, 2003, at Islamabad, it was Kaushal, MP, HVP and Senator Sanullah Baloch, BNP (see pages 22-27). participated by 30 members of Indian Parliament, officially representing 15 Chaudhary Ameer Hussain, Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, was parties, and 35 leading editors/journalists and experts, 62 members of the Chief Guest and addressed the conference (see page 20). He also hosted a Pakistan's National Assembly and the Senate, representing almost all parties lunch for the delegates, observers and guests (670) after the ceremony. in the parliament, and 75 Pakistani journalists and experts. The total number of delegates was 202, whereas the observers in the opening and closing

This was the first closed-door session on understanding positions of different ceremonies crossed 250 participants.parties on Indo-Pak relations. The discussion was quite frank and useful. For the first time a variety of representatives of varied public opinion met together and came to know each other's positions on various aspects of Indo-The conference started with the national anthems of the two countries and Pak relations. Although Kashmir and cross-border terrorism dominated the welcome addresses by the presidents of SAFMA of Pakistan and India. Main deliberations, most speakers emphasised the need to have an integrated, policy paper on Indo-Pak conflict and ways to manage conflict, develop uninterruptible and productive dialogue, without ignoring one crucial issue understanding, take confidence-building measures and approach towards or the other or the concerns of the parties involved and making the dialogue resolving conflict was presented by the Secretary General of SAFMA, Imtiaz

Session-I: Understanding

Opening Ceremony

10

hostage to one or the other issue and condition. The tone was in fact set by a visa regime, especially for the journalists and writers, to allowing free very articulate input by Mani Shankar Aiyar who formulated a very profound movement of media products, agreeing to South Asian Free Trade Area approach to have a dialogue. (SAFTA) to promoting people-to-people contacts. Those who spoke in the session were: Mani Shankar Aiyar, MP, INC; Sherry Those who participated in the discussion were: I A Rehman, senior editor and Rehman MNA, PPP-P; Bhan Singh Bhaura, MP, CPI; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad human rights activist; Dinesh Trivedi, MP, Trinamool Congress; Senator Duranni; Saleem Shervani, MP, SP; Dr. Akmal Hussain, economist; Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ali Durani, General Secretary Millat Party; Sardar Zora Singh (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi; Begum Tehmina Daultana, MNA, PML-N; Lt. Gen. Maan, MP, Akali Dal; Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, senior editor; Prabash Joshi, (Retd.) Satish Nambiar; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood; Abid Hasan Minto, journalist ; Kanwer Khalid Younis, MNA, MQM; Smt Margaret Alva, MP, leading jurist; Ram Jethmalani, member Rajiya Sabha; Hameeda Khuro, Congress; Kashmala Tariq, MNA, PML-Q; Vinod Sharma, journalist; Hamid historian; S. Nihal Singh, senior editor (see pages 29-33). Another significant Nasir Chatta, MNA, President PML-J; Mrs. M. P. Durga, MP, CPI-M; event in the evening was the dinner-reception hosted by Makhdoom Amin Krishnaswamy, MP Smata party; Saiyidul Saiyidain Naqvi, senior journalist; Fahim, on behalf of PPP Chair-person Ms Benazir Bhutto. Similarly, High Senator Farhatullah Babar, PPP-P; Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilour, ANP and Commissioner of India, Shri S. Menon, hosted a reception for the delegates of Abani Roy, MP, RSP.(see pages 37-42)

Most significant event of the day was luncheon-reception hosted by Prime the conference.Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali in honour of the delegates of the conference, especially the Indian guests, at the Prime Minister House. The Prime Minister also made brief welcoming remarks on the occasion and Subjects of this session were: Measures for de-escalation; measures for visa called for “peace and only peace”. relaxation, especially for journalists; measures for a composite, sustainable

and result-oriented process of dialogue; measures for trade and economic cooperation; measures to make SAARC vibrant and viable. Overall emphasis

This was the most engaging session that attracted input from largest number was on shifting the resources from military security to human security. A of delegates. Broadly the house focused on Kashmir issue and cross-border number of CBMs were proposed ranging from sports links, to youth and terrorism. A variety of opinions were expressed. However, most agreed oncultural exchanges, trade and conflict/nuclear management, relaxation of

Session II: CBMs

Session-III: Conflict Resolution

11

In the flash lights

12

the need to resolve Kashmir question and cross-border terrorism through Khakawani, MNA, PML-Q, S. Nihal Singh, senior journalist; Sherry Rehman, dialogue without making it a pre-condition for the resumption of dialogue. MNA, PPP-P; and Mani Shankar Aiyar, MP, Congress. (see pages 53-55)

The conference came to conclusion with Foreign Minister Mian Khurshied The majority view favoured simultaneous dialogue on all issues and progress Mehmood Kasuri's speech (see page 50) that was followed by the dinner in areas wherever possible to deepen confidence and expand cooperation, in hosted by him. Mr Kasuri appreciated SAFMA's initiative while emphasising order to create favourable conditions, for the resolution of most intractable the need for resumption of dialogue at the official level. He also launched issues. Interestingly, the house did not entertain pre-conditions attached to SAFMA's news and views website, www.southasianmedia.net. On August 12 dialogue. Although most Pakistani speakers emphasised the need to resolve the Indian delegates were invited to visit the Parliament House by the Kashmir issue, most favoured progress in all areas where cooperation was Speaker of National Assembly where souvenirs were presented to Indian possible. Similarly, most speakers from the Indian side focused on cross-MPs. border terrorism, but many of them did not make resumption of dialogue

conditional upon its cessation first. Those who addressed this session were: Ram Nath Kovind, MP, BJP; Lt. Gen.

The climax of the whole exercise reached its peak by the interaction of (Retd.) Naseer Akhtar; Dileep Padgaonkar, journalist; Abdul Hayye Baloch, President Pervez Musharraf with the Indian delegation. It was a very candid President BNM; Sherry Rehman, MNA, PPP-P; M.P.Bhandara, MNA, PML-and frank exchange of views after the address by the President who had also Q; Talib Hussain, MP, National Conference; Prem Shankar Jha, columnist; arranged tea in honour of the Indian guests and SAFMA office-bearers (see Aman Ullah Khan, chairman JKLF and Seema Mustafa, journalist. (see pages page 4). Soon after the meeting with the President, the Chief Minister of 44-47) NWFP Akram Durrani and the leadership of MMA hosted a luncheon-reception in honour of Indian MPs and other guests. Hundreds of Maulanas

High point of the conference was the 'Sense of the House' (see page 13) that and leadership of the component parties of the MMA were present at the reflected the consensus reached across the political and ideological divides. Frontier House, Islamabad. Political significance of MMA's reception, in the This document emphasised the need for an “integrated, uninterruptible, words of an editor, was that “the leading clerics will now be giving sermons of result-oriented and well-structured process” between India and Pakistan. It peace, instead of Jihad, in their Friday address”. As the Indian guests arrived recognised the concern of Pakistan over the Kashmir issue and India's in Lahore, Chief Minister of the Punjab, Chaudhary Parvez Elahi, hosted a concern about cross-border infiltration. The statement supported SAFMA's marvelous dinner for them. It must be acknowledged that Chaudhary Shujaat demand for free movement of journalists and media products across Hussain, the PML-Q chief facilitated the conference at all levels. Last but not frontiers without hindrances. The House resolved to promote peace and the least was the farewell lunch hosted by leading human rights activist Asma understanding in the subcontinent. As the delegates supported a composite Jehangir at her residence.

Besides the conference and receptions, the welcome the Indian leaders and dialogue on all issues, they also emphasised the imperative to address all guests received from the people made it a memorable event. Right from the issues without ignoring any major issue while moving forward where Wahgah border, where they were received by a large number of men and agreement was possible that should, in turn, facilitate the resolution of most women, including the JUI and Joint Action Committee for People's Rights' thorny issues. Draft of the Sense of the House was prepared by the Subject activists, they were garlanded with flowers wherever they went. Not to forget Committee of the Conference and consensus was achieved before presenting was the civic reception arranged by the Joint Action Committee for People's the draft before the House where no dissenting voice was raised.

Again in the lights of cameras and presence of the media, the speakers in the Rights in Lahore where a play on peace was also presented. During a short concluding session repeated their known positions. However, diversity of period of four days, Laloo Prasad Yadav emerged as the most popular leader views from either country was too obvious with the difference that tones were comparing even the popularity of national leaders of Pakistan. He in fact much milder than the opening ceremony, except for Ishaq Khakawani's made the peace issue a most popular issue. exceptionally hawkish speech. Those who addressed the ceremony were: Mrs Sarla Maheshwari, MP,CPI-M; Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, senior editor; Balbir Punj, MP, BJP; Ishaq Khan

Highpoint

Concluding Session

Inspired by the realisation among the masses on both sides of the divide for burying the hatchet and resolving our differences through peaceful means, the participants have agreed to pursue a wholistic vision that does not ignores any divisive issue. Conscious of the demands of realism and in consideration of the

arliamentarians from most parties of the two parliaments, political concerns of the two sides, the participants have taken note of the issues Pleaders, media persons and experts from Pakistan and India having that have fuelled confrontation between India and Pakistan such as met at Islamabad on August 10 and 11, 2003, at the invitation of the Pakistan’s keenness for an early settlement of the Kahmir issue and South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). India’s concern at cross-border terrorism. They are convinced that Having deliberated upon the urgency of understanding between the two

while these issues need to be addressed on priority basis, no purpose will countries, confidence-building measures and conflict-resolution efforts

be served by ignoring possibilities of cooperation in various fields. This the participants have reached a broad understanding on the following

would create the goodwill and confidence necessary for the resolution of lines:

conflicts and issues that impede progress in other mutually beneficial areas. While the recent initiatives by the governments of India and Pakistan

towards normalisation of their relations are welcome, it is necessary to The participants agree on the need for creating maximum possible space

expedite the process of dialogue at the levels of both states and people for people of the two countries to recognise and respect each other and

and approach all requisites of confidence-building, conflict strive jointly for guaranteeing a better future for the coming

management and conflict resolution with an integrated, uninterruptible, generations. All unreasonable restrictions on travel between the two

result-oriented and a well structured process. countries must be expeditiously dismantled.

(Prepared by the Subject Committee of the Conference and presented by Secretary General SAFMA before the Concluding Session)

Sense of the House

13

(Left to right) Makhdoom Amin Fahim, President PPP-P, Senator Ehsanul Haq Piracha, former president Farooq Leghari, President MP, Senator Durani, MP, and the last but not

the least Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain President ruling PML-Q

(Left to right) Makhdoom Amin Fahim, President PPP-P, Senator Ehsanul Haq Piracha, former president Farooq Leghari, President MP, Senator Durani, MP, and the last but not

the least Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain President ruling PML-QSpeaker National Assembly and SAFMA presidium

Standing in respect as national anthems of Pakistan & India are playedSpeaker National Assembly and SAFMA presidium

Standing in respect as national anthems of Pakistan & India are played

of blocking audio-visual channels and subjecting media-persons to The participants, in addition to encouraging the two governments to stay restrictions regarding visas and freedom of travel should be abandoned. the normalisation course, are convinced that political parties should give Duly accredited media-practitioners with ten-years of recognised priority to mobilising their ranks for peace and good-neighbourly professional experience must be granted five-year multiple-entry visas relations and allowing greater space for all civil society organisations to valid country-wide. They should be free from police reporting and support this process. should be granted expeditiously There should be harmonisation of all

tariffs with a zero-duty regime. Media-products, including newspapers, The participants agreed that the establishment of peace in the magazines, periodicals, books, cassettes, videos, soft-wares and subcontinent cannot be viewed separately from the aspirations of the electronically transmitted features/stories/news, etc., should be allowed people for a genuinely democratic dispensation, gender equality, the free flow across borders.rights of the under-privileged and the minorities and their empowerment. They, therefore, stressed the desirability of The participants recognise their role in the cause of peace, democracy strengthening relations between the parliamentarians, journalists, and justice and resolve to strive, collectively and severally to resist the academics, businesspersons, experts, professionals, students, workers, forces of fanaticism, extremism and violence.farmers, artists and sportspersons of the two countries.

The participants felicitate SAFMA and its Indian and Pakistan chapters The conference took note of the SAFMA Protocol: “Free Movement of for their trial-blazing initiative and thank them for the excellent Media-persons and Media-products Across the South Asian Region”. It conference arrangements and warmest possible hospitality and for stresses freedom of media and the right of media-persons to carry out providing a foretaste of the spirit of amity and free discourse that the their professional responsibilities, free from state intervention and non- people of India and Pakistan need and certainly deserve. They will state pressures. All overt and covert restrictions on the free flow of welcome such initiatives by SAFMA in future and possibly holding a information and ideas should be removed and the indefensible practice follow-up conference in India.

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(Left to right) Sardar Zora Singh Mann, MP Shiromani Akali Dal, Laloo Parasad Yadav, President RJD,Ram Jethmalani, MP Independent and Saleem Iqbal Shervani, MP SP, with other delegates.

(Left to right) Sardar Zora Singh Mann, MP Shiromani Akali Dal, Laloo Parasad Yadav, President RJD,Ram Jethmalani, MP Independent and Saleem Iqbal Shervani, MP SP, with other delegates.

PML-Q President Ch. Shujaat Hussain sharing the same benches with PMLN leaders, including its Acting President Javaid Hashmi

PML-Q President Ch. Shujaat Hussain sharing the same benches with PMLN leaders, including its Acting President Javaid Hashmi

n behalf of SAFMA Pakistan and hat an event! This gathering is O Won my own behalf, I welcome you, both unusual and exciting. It is especially the elected representatives unusual because it is being held by from India, distinguished experts and journalists, under SAFMA India and our journalist colleagues, to this Pakistan. How it happened is an conference, including the Pakistani top interesting story.

It is exciting because the participants political leadership and delegates from include parliamentarians from almost all almost all political parties. I thank Prime political parties in both the countries, Minister of India Shri Atal Behari journalists, experts and representatives Vajpayee, Leaders of opposition Ms of the civil society. A veritable rainbow of Sonia Gandhi and Ms Benazir Bhutto for political and public opinions, their having sent their messages for the complexions may differ, the curves may conference and President General vary, but they add up to a harmonious Pervez Musharraf for having invited the whole and serve a very worthy cause. Indian guests to tea in the Presidency and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan As has been pointed out in one of our notes, “the imbroglio between India and Jamali for having invited the conference delegates to lunch in the Prime Pakistan cannot be handled unless tackled head on, with a holistic vision Minister House. My special thanks to Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly involving all mainstream forces, powerful stakeholders and, above all, Ch Ameer Hussain for gracing this occasion of opening ceremony. SAFMA respective civil societies.”has been engaged in brining the media persons from across South Asia on its Needless to say, the initiative of the Prime Minister of India, Mr. A.B. platform to jointly voice our concerns for freedom of media, free flow of and Vajpayee, extending the hand of friendship to Pakistan, and equally positive access to information. It has now emerged as a mainstream media body of sentiments by his counterpart here, Mr. Zafarullah Khan Jamali, helped give journalists of this region while struggling for our freedoms and rights, a concrete shape to our vague ideas. The parliamentarians from India SAFMA has come in the forefront of developing understanding, promoting represent almost all political parties. As such, they will bring to bear the confidence building, facilitating conflict resolution, enhancing regional collective wisdom of the country on the discussions. The same is the case with cooperation and, above all, peace and cooperation in the region.the representatives from Pakistan. Think of the inter-play of the ideas from Noting in despair the continuing tension between India and Pakistan, the two sides and the result could not be but exciting and productive. SAFMA welcomed the peace gestures by Prime Minister of Pakistan Mir It is a matter of great satisfaction to have at our forum those operating the Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Behari supreme democratic institutions, the parliaments. It is better to have peace Vajpayee. The idea of this conference was agitating our minds for some time and amity between neighbours than continuous tension and acrimony.as we watched helplessly an adversarial relationship and as every conference We have to persevere rather than to throw up our hands in despair. The of SAFMA got boggled down with Indo-Pak issues. When we met in Dhaka for present conference, India-Pakistan dialogue, has to be seen in this context. our third conference on Media and Democracy, May 25-26, 2003, the two The two governments, of course, will be dealing with each other and, chapters of SAFMA from India and Pakistan decided to bring hopefully, making headway. But, without waiting for them to formulate parliamentarians, experts and journalists from the two countries together in concrete plans of action, non-officials have a key role to play. They are better-Islamabad to push the peace process forward. suited to reach out to their peoples, the ultimate sovereign, and acquaint I hope this conference will provide a good occasion for meeting of hearts and them with the real situation. Hopefully, we, at this conference would be able a useful interaction among the elected representatives of the people. I again to remove the cobwebs of misunderstandings, suspicions and mistrust thank you all for helping this conference take place and request you all to through a thorough interaction among ourselves. make it successful for the cause of peace in our region.

By M. ZiauddinPresident SAFMA, Pakistan By K. K. Katyal

President SAFMA, India

Unusually excitingUnusually excitingMeeting of heartsMeeting of hearts

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Thanks to the initiative for friendship taken by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and equally reciprocated by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, an opportunity for peace seems to be emerging once again that should not be missed as has been happening in the past. Lessons have to be learnt from the past failures and efforts have to be made to build a sound edifice for a composite, meaningful and a sustainable dialogue to address whole gambit of issues without either ignoring any crucial issue or making palpable progress in areas of possible cooperation a hostage to one or the other issue. Not only that area of major concerns to the concerned parties be addressed, but also progress, in whichever area it is possible, be made in the best interest of the people of subcontinent.A sound and result oriented road-map can be worked out to tackle even the most intractable of all issues, such as Kashmir, besides moving in other areas. Completely debarring use of force to resolve disputes and rejecting his is indeed a great event of historic importance when the elected repression and terrorism, perpetrated by the state or private agencies against Trepresentatives, nominated by their party heads as delegates, from the innocent people, Pakistan and India should unequivocally declare their almost all parties in the two legislatures of India and Pakistan have got resolve to take the path of peace and reconciliation to solve all disputes and together here in the first of its kind Indo-Pak parliament at Islamabad.issues while exploiting full potential of all avenues of possible areas of It provides a unique opportunity to develop understanding, contemplate cooperation. confidence-building measures and open our minds to evaluate various But, admittedly, there are no easy solutions to our differences and historically creative, just and mutually acceptable solutions to the most intractable of all rooted perceptions take time to change. Nor can our idealistic dreams, which issues, such as Kashmir, and assess ways to manage nuclear and military we should continue to relish, become reality unless we address all stabilisation.contentious issues in a very realistic, pragmatic and far-sighted manner, Above all, this conference should encourage saying farewell to arms and regardless of what we have been posturing or saying under the burden of identifying a rewarding path to peaceful, mutually beneficial and brotherly

neighbourhood. Unfortunately, meaningful cooperation at the South Asian level is hamstrung by Pakistan-India logjam leaving SAARC, as a consequence, in a lurch.More than any region in the world, and like Middle East, the subcontinent requires a multi-pronged initiative and a healing touch in a pre-conflict, conflict situation. It warrants statesmanship, flexibility, give-and-take and necessary will to initiate a process of de-escalation, confidence-building and an integrated dialogue to resolve conflicts and build bridges of cooperation, wherever possible, simultaneously. After a prolonged standoff between India and Pakistan, the ice seems to be melting, even though the causes behind the animosity and conflict continue to persist.Unless tackled head on with a wholist vision and the involvement of all mainstream forces, powerful stakeholders and, above all, civil societies, the Pakistan-India imbroglio cannot be tackled. The plight of its people and challenges of the present day uni-polar world and globalisation warrant rethinking, dialogue, understanding and resolution at all levels.

Imtiaz AlamSecretary General SAFMA

Indo-Pak imbroglio: Indo-Pak imbroglio: An An

alternative alternative viewview

16

(Left to right) K.K. Katyal, President SAFMA India, Reazuddin Ahmed, President SAFMA, Speaker National Assembly, Ch. Ameer Hussain, Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General SAFMA, M. Ziauddin, President SAFMA Pakistan, Mustansar Javed, Gen. Sec. SAFMA Pakistan,

Irshad Haqqani, Senior Editor, Aroosa Alam, President SAFMA Islamabad

(Left to right) K.K. Katyal, President SAFMA India, Reazuddin Ahmed, President SAFMA, Speaker National Assembly, Ch. Ameer Hussain, Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General SAFMA, M. Ziauddin, President SAFMA Pakistan, Mustansar Javed, Gen. Sec. SAFMA Pakistan,

Irshad Haqqani, Senior Editor, Aroosa Alam, President SAFMA Islamabad

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Burdened with Kashmir mission Ram Jethmalani curiously takes notes as Saleem Iqbal Shervani watches with fingers crossed

Burdened with Kashmir mission Ram Jethmalani curiously takes notes as Saleem Iqbal Shervani watches with fingers crossed

historical baggage and rigidities of our fossilised officialdom or to satisfy the Indo-Pak tension and conflict. Time has really come to bury the hatchet and come out of living in the past. hardliners.

This is now clear even to the hawks of hawks that war is no option, especially Pakistan is not an aberration of history, nor is India an empire not complete after the induction of nuclear weapons, although it broke out thrice and it without annexation. A strong, prosperous, stable and democratic Pakistan is cannot still be ruled out but it would be a mutually assured destruction. not only in the best interest of our people, but also in the interest of both India Similarly, the kind of diplomacy the two countries have been indulging in the and South and Western Asia. Similarly, a prosperous, democratic and secular past has not produced historic breakthroughs, although some very important India suits its people and South Asia if it takes care of its neighbours.agreements were signed and many critical issues were resolved, such as on However, disproportion in size and strength between India and its middle-water distribution. The diplomacy, the subcontinent has learnt through the sized and smaller neighbours create a genuine sense of insecurity that can decades of Indo-Pak cold war has been bellicosity-by-rotation of the sorts to and should be addressed by an elder brother who ought to be considerate sustain deadlock or break a deadlock to create another deadlock. elder brother. If we review our diplomatic history, we find a whole list of breach of There are certain approaches that have not worked or will not work. They agreements, declarations, covenants and resolutions we accepted or signed, have to give way to more realistic approaches. We know very well why recent by one side or the other or by both sides. appreciable efforts to normalise relations are not helping the process to pick In fact bad relations between India and Pakistan provide a bumpy pitch to the steam. foul play of bowlers of some political varieties to bold out any sensible quid A bilateral approach should equally address the concerns and priorities of pro quo or those who caution safe-play and plead for an even play field. The each side. Otherwise, nothing will move forward. Certain principles will have truth of the matter is that India-Pakistan conflict provides 'necessary to be agreed. They are:external condition' for the growth of religious revivalism, extremism and

1. Resolution of conflict and differences through peaceful means and authoritarianism in both the countries.negotiations.The xenophobia in both the countries is mutually reinforcing. This is just not

2. The dialogue should be without conditions and without a coincidence that in the building of two nation-states, an element of interruption.exclusion of other side and suspicion about the 'enemy' worked to the

3. The agenda should include the concerns of both sides and disadvantage of good relations between the two neighbours. The enemy-address simultaneously the priorities of two sides.syndrome has kept both sides in a permanent state of paranoia.

4. The two cores of the core issue-the issue of Kashmir and Consequently, there are quite powerful lobbies on both sides who thrive on terrorism and repression should be addressed and sequenced to resolve to the bilateral satisfaction and the Kashmiris.

5. Simultaneous approach of resolving the twin issues of Kashmir and terrorism and cooperation wherever it is possible to expand vested interest in peace dividends and create goodwill to solve intractable issues.

6. Move forward from where the grounds were covered at Lahore and Agra for a composite, result-oriented and accommodating dialogue with a spirit of give and take.

7. Keeping big picture of South Asian cooperation ahead and benefits from it.

8. Raising the level of threshold against any provocation while stopping hate-campaign.

9. All hurdles in the way of people-to-people contacts should be removed, especially the free movement of journalists across frontiers and free flow of information to overcome the information deficit.

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Balancing the gender imbalance: Sarla Maheshwari, CPI-M, Mrs. N. P. Durga, TDPBalancing the gender imbalance: Sarla Maheshwari, CPI-M, Mrs. N. P. Durga, TDP

1. Revival of rail and air links.2. Bring an end to the hate-campaign from both sides. 3. Soften non-tariff barriers to allow greater contact among people.4. Allow five year visas to journalists with ten years of professionals

standing for the whole country without delay and police reporting and permit free flow of information.

5. Allow pilgrims to sacred places from both sides and of all religions through regular special shuttles.

6. Start bus-service between Amritsar and Lahore, Muzaffarabad and Srinagar.

7. Allow contacts among the Kashmiris and their leaders.8. Allow oil and gas pipelines through joint ventures. 9. Allow trade on the lists agreed by two chambers of commerce and

industry.10. Allow frequent cultural exchanges.11. Create a joint forum of the two parliaments. 12. Implement Memorandum of Understanding announced at the

Lahore summit.

This most representative conference should take into consideration Some mechanics can also be offered, such as: whatever can be done to improve relations between the two brothers while

rising above, at least for two days, above party and one-sided affiliations. a) Foreign secretaries level talks should start immediately to work Besides two inaugural and closing ceremonies, we will have three off-the-

out the agenda for a composite dialogue and road-map. record closed-door sessions for frank, useful and productive dialogue.b) Parallel to that, and benefitting from the recent experience of I am confident that we will be able to send a message to the people of

other conflict-resolution efforts, nomination of authoritative subcontinent, a message of amity and friendship. Thank you very much for Special Emissaries by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and hearing me too long and for your cooperation to make this conference a President Pervez Musharraf with an open agenda. success. I hope your stay in Pakistan will be comfortable and memorable.

c) Holding of summit after some preparations. I conclude with a couplet that I read on my way to Delhi on the Dosti Bus: d) Format of two-plus-six may be pursued simultaneously without Dil ka Darwaja khol key ana, wapas ja key bhul na jana.

either putting the biggest irritants on the back-burner or making Jai Pakistan, Jai Hind. normalisation process a hostage to one issue or the other.

e) 12th SAARC Summit should be held as agreed and not letting SAARC become a victim of the whim of one party or the other on one pretext or the other.

f) Granting India MFN status and moving ahead with SAPTA and SAFTA.

g) Agreements that can be reached, or have been reached but not implemented, such as on Siachin, should be immediately signed and implemented.

Some Confidence-building measures need to be taken without delay:

Chaudhary Ameer HussainSpeaker of NationalAssembly of Pakistan

LaunchingLaunchingSouth Asian

JOURNALJOURNAL

19

exercises a wide variety of administrative as well as legislative responsibilities as defined in the Constitution. The State Legislature represents the people in deliberating on and deciding about the matters affecting the common man. I believe that the members of the Assembly can be affective in confidence-building and conflict-resolution because the elected representatives in our two countries wield a considerable amount of personal influence, apart from their official positions.A free and vibrant media is the sign of a healthy society. With the revolution in information technology, the capacity of print and electronic media has increased manifold in formulating the public opinion. The media can, I believe, serve as a vital link in confidence-building and conflict-resolution between India and Pakistan as well. The role of media is also crucial because in my opinion, the politicians are quite alike and they work very closely with each other most of the times.I am firm that objective and to the point reporting is the first step towards a healthy interaction. It not only generates a feeling of mutual respect but also nurtures confidence. The responsibility of the press is to project friendly image and discourage the shadows of enmity.Let me take this opportunity to remind all of you that while we talk about media, we must not forget the formidable presence and importance of vernacular press, both in India and Pakistan. The editors and journalists present here today would surely agree with me that the vernacular press is a segment of media, which is most vocal, influential and far reaching. Today, the South Asian Free Media Association has brought all of us together. So we must appreciate people and retired civilian and military officers in keeping the track-II circuits alive, even in toughest of times. South Asia is home to almost one-fifth of the world population. Despite the individual importance of Pakistan and India in world politics, most of our population t is indeed a privilege for me to inaugurate this conference being attended lives in abject poverty. Being nuclear powers now, a great responsibility rests Iby a galaxy of parliamentarians and media personnel from India and on our shoulders. We should strive to settle our old disputes amicably and Pakistan. I am pleased to observe that the visiting parliamentarians search for new vistas of cooperation for the betterment of the masses.represent a diverse background. The South Asian Free Media Association Economics is the key to survival. At present, we are facing serious economic (SAFMA) deserves to be congratulated for organising this event, which is the problems including staggering external debt, high debt servicing ratios, first of this kind.global recession, unemployment, natural calamities and volatile situations Democracy in Pakistan is gaining strength and stability with each coming on our borders. Economic cooperation and inter-dependence are viable day. The Senate of Pakistan, the National Assembly and all the four methods of conflict-resolution. In such a situation, the legislators can play an Provincial Assemblies are functioning in a satisfactory manner, striving for important role in promoting legislation for economic development and the betterment of masses. The Legislatures of today are more representative cooperation.than any other time in the history of Pakistan. There is more than 22% I also sincerely feel that parliamentary interaction can be enormously representation of women, a large number of youngsters and representatives beneficial for us. We have a lot to learn from our common experiences in of all political parties are aspiring to excel in parliamentary practices.coalition governments and multi-party setups.I firmly believe that legislators can and must lead the way in peace process Global politics is entering a new phase, one that is full of challenges. between India and Pakistan. A legislature, being the governing body,

Building Building parliamentarians' parliamentarians'

solidaritysolidarity

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Chaudhary Ameer Hussain Speaker of National Assembly Pakistan addressing the inaugural ceremony

Chaudhary Ameer Hussain Speaker of National Assembly Pakistan addressing the inaugural ceremony

21

Pakistani Parliament, Indian MPs, with their beautiful hostsPakistani Parliament, Indian MPs, with their beautiful hosts

cooperation in South Asia, rather than a temporary break-through. I hope that a sustained and structured dialogue between Pakistan and India will commence soon on all outstanding i s s u e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e d i s p u t e o v e r Jammu&Kashmir under already agreed mechanism.A policy of multi-lateral regional cooperation has not been a very popular choice in South Asia. S A A R C h a s t o b e strengthened to pursue such a policy. A viable and effective mechanism of regional cooperation can prove to be very effective in resolution of disputes and building of mutual trust and confidence, as we have seen in the case of ASEAN. The 12th SAARC Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan next January, would hopefully provide a new direction to the stalled

Terrorism has come up as a potential threat for the civilised people of our process of regional cooperation. We look forward to receiving Prime Minister world. Pakistan has, time and again, condemned terrorism in all its forms Vajpayee in Pakistan at the occasion. I personally, attach a great deal of and manifestations and is a part of the international campaign against importance to symbolic gestures and am glad to note that this conference is terrorism. However, the issue of terrorism can be dealt effectively only taking place at a time when there is a significant breakthrough at the through a joint and comprehensive approach. Such an approach entails: governmental level also. The resumption of bus service has taken place and (a) A consensus on definition of terrorism; talks about resumption of air links are underway, only to mention a few out of (b) Collective efforts to eliminate terrorism; and the long list of anticipated confidence- building measures by the two (c) Addressing root causes of terrorism. governments. In the end, I must once again congratulate the South Asian

Free Media Association and wish all of you success in your deliberations All of us are aware of the fact that the issue of Kashmir remains the primary during the course of this conference. For our Indian guests, I hope that this source of tension between India and Pakistan. The resolution of Kashmir trip of yours is a memorable one, the memories of which you may cherish with dispute is vital for peace in South Asia; we are looking for lasting peace and your families and friends in the times to come.

Ch. Shujaat Hussain Anadi Charan Sahu President PML-Q

MP, BJP

Senior politicians, media persons and scholars from both Pakistan and India Prime Minister Vajpayee has been consistently trying for a peaceful and

have a vital role to play in promoting peace and friendship between the two honourable settlement of all disputes between the two countries through

countries. Peace and good neighbourly relations are of great importance for bilateral talks.

the welfare and prosperity of the two countries. Both India and Pakistan have At the Wahgah border, we were received by young people with enthusiasm

initiated talks many times but could not succeed. Exchange of cultural which indicated that the young generation in Pakistan is keen to develop

delegations and opening rail links cannot bring peace without resolving the understanding, tolerance, and friendship with India. India has been

core issue of Kashmir. After the tragic incident of September 11, the world extending the hand of friendship at every conceivable moment.

community is stressing on the peaceful settlement of disputes in different The terrorist attacks on Indian Parliament in December, 2001, and on the regions. J&K Assembly are glaring examples of terrorism, trying to shake the very Although Kashmir is a regional issue, it has international implications too.

foundation of our democracy. Still we have not lost hope and would fervently The world community should focus on this issue like it does on Palestine,

wish that an era of understanding dawns. It is the time when meaningful regardless of their own interests. I would propose that the Kashmir issue be

dialogue should be initiated among politicians, journalists and thinkers to treated as a priority for the welfare and prosperity of millions of people in

bring about a solution to the problems that both India and Pakistan are South Asia. Peace in the region can only be achieved when the core issue is

facing. What we think today, governments of both the countries will think resolved to the satisfaction of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan government

tomorrow. Let's gauge the feelings of the common people of both the fully supports the peace initiative of the international community and is

countries and suggest measures for normalising relations between India and ready to take any possible step to achieve this objective. A day would come

Pakistan, which have a common history and culture.when better sense would prevail and the Kashmir issue would be resolved to the satisfaction of the people of both countries. The political leadership in India and Pakistan should work out a lasting and peaceful settlement of all pending issues.

22

are sure that the bilateral moves for negotiations between India and Pakistan to bring peace would prove to be a good omen for the peaceful and prosperous future of this region, without any third party mediation. Both the countries should resolve the Kashmir problem according to the will of the Kashmiris without, however, hurting the legitimate interests of the two neighbours. War can never be a solution to any problem, rather it complicates the issue. This is the time to judge the political maturity of the decision makers of both the countries. The hegemonic attitude of the present US administration has disturbed the whole world. Against this backdrop, the interaction among the parliamentary delegations, the meetings of journalists and the interaction among traders, teachers and scholars is the need of the hour for understanding, confidence building and resolving bilateral and multilateral conflicts among nations. Parliamentarians can play a pivotal role in achieving this target. “Journey of the thousand miles starts, but with a step”. Let's take that first step. This SAFMA conference will be remembered as a real and meaningful first step towards bringing peace in South Asia. Let’s start a dialogue at the official level as well and resolve not to let this process of

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman confidence building derail. MNA, General Secretary MMA

Ram Vilas PaswanThe activism of parliamentarians and the journalists for peace is the need of MP, President Lok Janshakti

the hour. The role of journalists has been enhanced in such circumstances and now their responsibility is to defend the constitutional democracies

People of India and Pakistan can promote rather than dictatorships. It is their universal responsibility to inform the

friendship while living separately. Today, a masses about the negative impact and dangers of dictatorship, wars and

number of other countries, which have been conflicts. The illogical reaction of the US after the tragedy of 9/11 has affected

at loggerheads have developed trade the world beyond any proportion, especially the South Asian region.

relations; then India and Pakistan can also Now it is the high time that the aspirations and wishes of the people should be

do business. Kashmir is a diabetic disease, reflected in the decisions taken by the parliaments of all the democratic

which cannot be cured easily. We can countries. Parliamentarians will have to work hard in these circumstances to

maintain our friendship while tackling this achieve this target and a meaningful progress can be made towards a better

issue. The tragedy of Iraq can be repeated future through collective wisdom. The chauvinist notions of “clash of

when relations of states with their civilisations” and “the end of history” help imposition of aggressive wars on

neighbours do not improve. Both the weaker nations, but an overwhelming response of the people against

countries spend a lot of money on defence and weaponry. Poverty will never hegemonic wars and for peace brings us greater relief and confidence in the

be eradicated until all this money is spent on productive activities. wisdom of a majority of the people who are peace-loving and against

Unofficial exchanges between the two countries are needed to pressurise injustice.

governments of both the countries, besides the talks at the official level. If the Millions of Europeans and even Americans registered their protest against

wall of enmity cannot be broken down, then at least conferences like the one the brutal policies of USA and Great Britain and against their war on Iraq.

SAFMA has organised can open our hearts. The message, conveyed through Prime Minister Vajpayee offered a hand of friendship to Pakistan, which was

this conference will create new hope that relations between India and reciprocated by Pakistan's Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

Pakistan will improve. It is a positive step in the right direction in the current global situation. We

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24

Farooq Ahmed Khan LeghariFormer President of Pakistan,MNA, President MP

Intellectuals from both India and Pakistan talk of democracy, which is often misunderstood. Real democracy lies in empowering common man of both India and Pakistan. A vast majority of them are being denied their legitimate and fundamental rights on account of their poverty and backwardness. More often, we are totally engaged in power politics and in that

Smt Margaret Alva process, democracy is downgraded. And MP, INC when it happens, human rights on both sides

of the border are ignored to the loss of millions of people of subcontinent. On the day we became independent, our first Prime Minister Pandit India and Pakistan have fought three wars on certain contentious issues but Jawaharlal Nehru said: “We look upon the world with clear and friendly the prime issue has been the question of Kashmir. eyes”. It is an issue that needs to be discussed. Unless we do that we will continue to Unfortunately, however clear and friendly our eyes, our vision, whether in suffer. But how long can one-fifth of humanity be left as a hostage to the Delhi or Islamabad, has for 57 years been clouded with misunderstanding power play between the two countries? The leadership of India and Pakistan and mistrust. The fault doesn't lie in the hearts of the people of India and fully understand that Kashmir issue cannot be resolved by military means.Pakistan. It lies in the mindsets that have stood in the way of the resolution of We have been talking about the conflict-resolution measures but these need our problems. to be chosen with care. We would like India and Pakistan to sit together to talk The problems are persistent. We cannot wish them away, nor can they be about initiating sustainable dialogue. blown away in a gust of goodwill. Our mindsets have to find mutual accommodations. Dialogue alone can find the way to mutual understanding and mutual agreement.Both China and India have faced war in 1962 but now we have substantially put behind the anger and anguish of the past, to move forward on the path of dialogue towards mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. It cannot be said that all our problems have been solved. But it can be said, without fear of denial that tensions have been reduced and the cooperation in a number of fields is flowering.The way forward between India and Pakistan is dialogue. The dialogue needs a framework, which was laid in Simla in 1972. The principles of the Simla Agreement have been subscribed to by both India and Pakistan. We thus have an agreed framework and an agreed set of the principles. What requires now is a dialogue, which avoids the pitfalls of the past, and is so structured as to move forward towards mutually acceptable agreement.

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Laloo Prasad YadavMP, President RJD

I do not feel alien to Pakistan. To me, it is like moving in the Punjab, Bihar and Delhi. There should not be any doubt left in the hearts of the people about us, we who are representing people of India, and all political parties here. We have come with a message of love and brotherhood. We should move forward to bring an end to poverty. Instead of fighting on issues, which are widening the gulf between India and Pakistan, we should try to bridge it. I do not want to indulge in identifying the reasons behind the conflict. However, if the neighbours are in conflict over an issue, it hampers development and deprives children of education, denies people a decent life and they cannot even interact among themselves. I feel that there is a dire need to strengthen our cordial relations to prosper and for the betterment of people.The process of negotiation should start and this wall of hatred should be brought down when people of both the states are craving to see their relatives in both countries. We are the messengers of peace, love and brotherhood here. Now the need is to forget the disputes, restore the air and rail links to let the people of both countries travel freely across borders. It is the duty of the law enforcing agencies to keep an eye on the culprits but innocent public should not suffer. Now the time is to get united and remove all malice impeding friendship between the two countries. At the arrival of the delegation in Lahore, a local organisation staged a play where children demonstrated both countries fighting with each other and ending in great loss. This is what even children realised, who need employment, jobs, and education.That is why friendship is needed. We were brothers, we are brothers and we will remain neighbors. When we get together to discuss the conflicting issues, no third party mediation will be needed.

Javaid HashmiMNA, Acting, President PML-N

Since the partition, both Indian and Pakistan leaderships have tried to initiate cordial relation between the two countries. As Noor-ul-Amin, a Pakistani leader, said the emergence of Pakistan was made possible with the complete help and assistance on part of India but, unfortunately, tensions have led both countries to wars. History bears out the fact that even after wars, disputes had to be resolved through negotiations. There is a need to acknowledge the will of the people in Kashmir and Pakistan. In the South Asian region, India is a big power but Pakistan has its own strength and identity which needs to be acknowledged. Let's move towards the acceptance of each other and develop tolerance. We should not be afraid of each other and should take the initiative to curb poverty and to promote peace and cordial relations between the two countries.

Moinul HassanMP, CPI-M

This conference and its deliberations may help to build up a movement of the people of the two countries. Our party, CPI-M, is in favour of a coherent dialogue between the two countries to solve all conflicts and issues. Both India and Pakistan are facing the same problems like poverty and unemployment. Finally, the SAFMA conference has provided an occasion for building confidence and creating an atmosphere for improving relations between India and Pakistan. Our party welcomes the initiative of Prime Minister Vajpayee to resume talks with Pakistan that, subsequently, received positive response from Prime Minister of Pakistan.

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Syed Safwan Ullah Ramji Lal SumanFederal Minister, MNA, MQM MP, SP

In 1947, knowledgeable people believed that if We are neither representatives of the Indian prosperity was to be brought to 98% people of government nor the Pakistani government this region, then the masses of both the but only represent both Pakistani and Indian countries needed to think together to resolve masses. No one wants to live in a stressed their disputes. After fifty years of struggle, atmosphere. Pakistan and India used to do now SAFMA realised this need again and trade worth approximately 700 million started a new journey. It invites us to forget dollars, when relations between both the some assumed positions to accept the ground countries were not as bad as they are now. We realities. War doesn’t resolve any issue. After can restore our business relations even in the fighting three wars, now it is time to search for adverse circumstances we are now a solution to our problems through experiencing. I am sure that an agreement in negotiations and interaction. agriculture sector between both the countries can generate 2.70 million jobs

in India and one million in Pakistan. I want to inform all Pakistanis that Indian people want to see relations between both countries improved. There is only one issue on which all the parliamentarians of India are unanimous Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilourthat peace should be brought between India and Pakistan. It is the decision ANPof the Indian Parliament to opt for peaceful ways rather than war.

The more we meet and interact, the greater the public opinion will be built and then the leadership will be able to take decisions. K. E. Krishnamaurthy Kashmir is undoubtedly, a core issue but this MP, TDPdoes not mean that we should stick to only one issue. The question is how to resolve it. Let's I wish our deliberations may bring forth some stop blaming ISI and RAW for every incident understanding and confidence building to that happens either in Pakistan or India. We sort out some of the outstanding issues need to live peacefully, to alleviate poverty, between the two countries. Though there are and to solve problems like unavailability of some issues, which create an artificial drinking water. Trade, investment and distance between the two countries but they tourism are the three items mentioned in the can be sorted out by mutual understanding.

charter of SAARC out of which tourism can be another way to build up Our party's government has introduced Urdu relations between India and Pakistan. as the second language in the Muslim

districts of Andhra Pradesh. We suggest that games and sports may bring the two countries closer. We should start playing cricket and hockey matches again.

Swaraj KaushalMP, HVP

The last time, I came to Pakistan, it was for a night, a very long night indeed. We were struggling between life and death as we were on board a hijacked plane. Again, I am here with you, alive and addressing this conference. As the former governor of one of the provinces in North East India, I can tell you from my little experience that whenever a dialogue fails, we shouldn't blame the dialogue. It only means that we have not talked enough. But you must also appreciate that every dialogue requires a conducive atmosphere and unless it is there, no dialogue is possible.

Senator Sanaullah BalochBNP

I represent the most poor and helpless people of South Asia living in Balochistan, where the rate of poverty, unemployment and infant morality is the highest in the whole region. People who are working for peace in South Asia are fighting against poverty, unemployment and diseases but not against the governments of India and Pakistan. In Pakistan we, the parliamentarians are also fighting for the supremacy of parliament. I recommend that this meeting should demand the creation of a SAARC

parliament, so that whenever there is an absence of democracy in any country, the peace process could be moved forward through this regional parliament.

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All smiles at the Speaker’s lunchAll smiles at the Speaker’s lunch

A pleasant moment of Shervani with Kashmala, Speaker NA, and exceptionally somber Laloo, at the Parliament House

A pleasant moment of Shervani with Kashmala, Speaker NA, and exceptionally somber Laloo, at the Parliament House

Behind the doorsBehind the doorsAnyone listening?Anyone listening?

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for compromising solutions, which do not endanger India's vital interests Surendra Arora and its national unity.Chairman of BJP Foreign Policy CellI feel cautiously optimistic for the future but I am not happy with the speed; both the governments are moving, although there is a great deal of initial Dialogue between India and Pakistan will hesitation and caution on both sides. Prime Minister Vajpayee is aware of the have to be sustained over a long period. I feel pulls within his party but he needs support from India and positive response that in order for a dialogue to be pursued, you from Pakistan. have to create a conducive atmosphere, We should also perhaps take some risks on the question of crossborder which unfortunately does not exist at terrorism and ask ourselves should we insist on its reduction as the pre-present. Unless we feel assured that the right condition for talks?kind of atmosphere is created, a regular and If we knew what the dialogue will result in, then we did not need the dialogue consistent dialogue will be difficult to have in the first place. So respect and willingness to listen to each other are between our two countries. We need a change precisely what we should have in mind. It does mean to be open to all of mindset and we have to make a conscious solutions to every single issue whether it is economic or Kashmir. But if we effort to see that we do not do and say listen with respect to the other side in the dialogue process, it means taking something, which hurts the other side. It is very important that we have some time and being patient and this is the first step towards progress and next step kind of restrain on our official media to ensure that it doesn’t hurt the other will be a structured meeting of foreign secretaries.side. The best approach would be to seek step by step development in this

direction. We can build up a relationship in spheres like economics, science, education, even strategic dialogue and, finally, we will have a kind of Bhan Singh Bhauraunderstanding which will be conducive to eventual resolution of the border

MP, CPIproblem. The Kashmir issue cannot be immediately tackled and it has to be sacrificed We came here from India with love and for some time. friendship. Prior to 1947, both Pakistan and

India were united but now one has to accept the historical reality that both are two

Prem Shankar Jha separate nations. Though the people are Columnist living in two different countries, there is a

great urge for solidarity and brotherhood There is a change in the atmosphere as we are among the common people. We have to live meeting. Let’s solve all the outstanding peacefully as it brings progress and cuts issues and let's talk about Kashmir but still down unnecessary expenditure on weapons, there is an implied position of an unspoken which can be spent on development and subtext in the Indian position. This subtext prosperity of the two countries. The hawks of seems to say the more we will be able to open imperialism are working hard to regain total control over this subcontinent. up normal relations with Pakistan in other Naturally, we have to be vigilant and that is possible only with peace, fields like culture, travel and above all trade; friendship and solidarity. Let’s take oath for that.Kashmir will loose its absolute centrality in India and Pakistan disputes and we will see, how much we have to gain from each other's

cooperation over a wide range of issues. Kashmir today falls into its right perspective as a dispute, an important one. Once relations in other fields become normal, it will then be possible to look

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Kashmir not come in the way of economic relationship. I feel sorry when Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad Durannipeople come to India and have to undergo police reporting. Let’s remove this barrier.Peace is a process in itself, which has to be

sustained and worked upon over a longer period. The first problem comes when you

Dr. Akmal Hussainmake your objectives public and the other Economistside has its antennas up. Then you start being

skeptical about the process before it has I would stress the link between starting an started. Secondly, who knows the result may uninterrupted dialogue on one hand, and turn out to be a surprise. We may find out that building a conducive atmosphere for the people, who were fighting over a piece of dialogue, on the other hand. A composite territory can become a model for dialogue is an aggregation of sectoralised cooperation. If we will start a process, which interactions. Second important proposition will be a multi-track and multi-speed is that dialogue in the beginning is process, things that get resolved will create a synergetic effect and the other indeterminate and how it will end is issues will also start making headway. We know, Kashmir will take a little indeterminate too. We are in contradiction more time. In the meantime, we can make headway on some less complicated with the second aspect when we insist that we problems. The overall directions should be set by political leadership and need to build pre-condition of a “conducive atmosphere”. within that direction task can be given to various sector experts, who know There are two alternative ways of approaching India and Pakistan dialogue. the limits and parameters. The condition of Kashmir or nothing or first One is Mani Shankar's view and the other is the view that there has to be a Kashmir then anything else is as unreasonable as putting an end to cross-conducive atmosphere before the process starts. What is impelling the two border terrorism is. The political will on both sides is not so exciting; it can countries into a dialogue in the first place? There are two propositions for give way to other considerations very quickly. that. First is that both countries have recognised that a terrible balance of power exists between the two countries at the nuclear level and this balance of

Saleem Iqbal Shervani terror precludes the possibility of any military initiative taken by other side MP, SP leading towards a successful end. So in other words, military initiatives are

recognised by professionals on both sides of the border as being infeasible. I feel there is a desire in Pakistan that Second is that Pakistan, perhaps more than India, and India also recognised something should happen as far as relations that the long term security of the state depends on strengthening the with India are concerned. But some people economy and on improving the material conditions of its citizens. In say, we are emotionally attached to Kashmir. Pakistan, the security critically depends on confronting poverty and Why? Because they say there are two million overcoming it. The national security of each side requires peace with its Muslims living in Kashmir. But there are neighbours. I think, given the forces impelling both sides into a dialogue, we hundred and fifty million Muslims who live should really begin a dialogue and not talk about pre-conditions. outside Kashmir. Who feels hurt? There is a need to get involved with hundred and fifty million, who live in other parts of India so that we can take this process forward. We

need a bypass surgery in our relationship in which we do not take out the heart and throw it away at the end of the surgery; we instead need to strengthen the heart. So we will continue to talk about Kashmir but let

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Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Satish Nambiar

We are preparing a conducive atmosphere I think we need to look for something new if we here. Let's not restrict ourselves to making want to progress. If we go back to the same conducive effort only on Kashmir or anything beaten track, we will not go very far. The related to Kashmir. Both our nations are problem is a baggage of history and it will carrying a whole lot of baggage of 55 years. We probably be more productive to shed some have become prisoners of past and at each baggage. It is not a bad idea to take some of the successive attempt for normalising relations, parliamentarians to Jammu & Kashmir. certain things are added on it. A step by step approach certainly has a lot of meaning for continuing the dialogue. We should not brush away this point about cross-border infiltration. It is a major issue between the two

countries and we cannot just push it away by saying that we can tackle it later. Even the best of the neighbours have problems. These problems can be sorted Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood out not by sticking to certain positions and by clinging to certain myths. These myths need to be broken by the political leaderships of both the People of India and Pakistan are forcing a countries. Let's not be too ambitious in formulating a road map for talks. change on the political leaderships of their There are domestic compulsions of political leadership which need to be countries. This pressure is undoubtedly very factored when we talk about it. The need is to shed the baggage of the past and helpful and now it depends on the leadership adopt something new. of both the countries to channelise the

pressure coming from the people. The other factor is the realisation that after 9/11 a

Begum Tehmina Daultana military solution to the Kashmir problem is MNA, PML-N not possible. Both countries have to

understand that they cannot militarily prevail Is it the politicians who are hampering good

on each other. relations between India and Pakistan or is it The question is as to how we should proceed somebody else, who is trying all the time that with the peace process to bring about the political change in the thinking of relations should not be good between the two the leadership? countries? We need to spend more money on If politicians on both sides win elections on the basis of strengthening of health and education, which is highly desired mutual ties, it can strengthen political will. The leadership is still by the people of both the countries. Why have apprehensive and does not trust each other. You need a conducive we been spending so much on arms? Why are atmosphere before you talk about other matters. Let's continue this process we all thinking of having nuclear bombs? We to genuinely move forward towards peace. By and large, people and leaders of spend a lot on defence. What will happen both the countries have now come to that realisation that there is no way for when we will have to compete with the entire these countries to actualise their full potential except peace. The policy of

world? We can only do it if we are able to communicate with each other. I having volatile border and maintaining the balance of power through having categorically say it is the politicians, who will be able to solve these problems a volatile LoC is also no more feasible. What we need is peace on borders so not anybody else and negotiations should not be stopped. that we can really advance towards economic prosperity and bring about

greater cultural, economic and social linkages.

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some other points. The demand, which should be made through this forum is M. J. Akbarthat communication channels need to be opened. Let's get each other's Editor, Asian Agenewspapers and let's ease visas so that we can meet each other. Let our media and TV be free for each other. Fifteen and twenty years ago, there was a We have gradually but unconsciously moved to the human cost, which the complete lack of understanding between the two countries. This started Indo-Pak conflict has extracted from both the nations. Before Pakistan and opening up when the first video film came here and suddenly a change took India went to war, visa was easy and it was like traveling from one part to place not among the intellectuals but also among the common people. Then another. After they had fought war, visa regime became a monster. The this avenue for understanding got a further boost with the coming of reason for the 1965 war was in fact a failure of a dialogue. As Z. A. Bhutto said: television channels. If you want to strengthen democracy then the failure of the dialogue reinforced Pakistani suspicions that the dialogue communication shows the way. process was only a means to continuing the stalemate in India's favour. On

the other hand, there is an Indian suspicion that Pakistan is not interested in a dialogue. Fifty years ago, the problem of Kashmir should have been sorted

Ram Jethmalani out by a dialogue. In the normal process, the unresolved part would not have MP, Independent

remained unresolved because by the terms of the partition, every part of the subcontinent had to commit to one side or the other. We have been fighting with each other for the There was no third option given. So within the space of six months, a dialogue last fifty years and in this conflict, we not only process would have sorted out the Kashmir problem. We are still arguing inflicted damage to each other but also to our whether we want the option of a dialogue or whether we want the option of people. We both waste our resources on military solution. Let's see, what the price of failure has been. Each time the weapons and war. If we can spend ten years peace or dialogue process has failed, the cost was paid by the people in terms in peace then both the countries will emerge of economic cost of war and social cost. 1965 war was followed by another war as big powers. Why are we losing this in 1971 and then we had the arrival of hidden war, the camouflaged war. The opportunity for having a bright future? last year's cold war shook people from their senses to a degree with which the General Musharraf announced that Pakistan real war never shook. will curb terrorism. It is the height of You can win the election on Kargil but you can actually sweep the election on

statesmanship as he recognised the need of peace. The child Noor became the future of the two countries. Nobody should

the hour to go on the road of peace and question the sincerity of the Indian Prime Minister. I suggest that we remove

cooperation. Prime Minister Vajpayee delivered a wonderful speech in certain words out of the lexicon. The first word to get out of the way is

Srinagar, which received a lot of appreciation in Pakistan. We will have to 'summits', which have been going on for fifty years. Let's recognise the fact

melt this iron wall of enmity between the two countries with love. It is of no that neither country has enough oxygen for a summit.

worth to fight over words while describing Kashmir as a core issue or not. We should change the language and turn it into a forward movement. Each

Either you call it primary problem, important problem or one of the problems step you take into a forward movement can be greeted as some form of

but it is a problem, which cannot be ignored. I think, it is a simple problem but success but each failure in a summit means a very serious injury. This is the

our politicians have made it complicated. The ego of the governments or the time to consider whether the sound that we are hearing today is a sound of

people who are in power, is what has made this problem intractable; door being shut or a door being opened.

otherwise it is very easy to solve it. But this problem will be solved neither by politicians nor by bureaucrats. Ultimately, it is the track-III diplomacy which will solve this problem and Dr. Hameeda Khurothrough this we will force our governments to accept a solution; otherwise we Historianwill threaten to fight against them. The same should be done in Pakistan as well. We will announce in India that both sides have become wiser than they This conference is only a dialogue about dialogue and everybody is were before we met and now it is the time when we can really resolve our suggesting the ways forward. We should take one step at a time and should problems. Do not waste your resources on useless strife, which has got to go. understand each other's position on specific point before we can proceed to

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Let's start living peacefully and resolve Kashmir and other problems. create counter-forces like trade and commerce to overcome the forces of hatred. We are looking to the diplomats, generals and politicians but the real power to solve the problem lies with the people of the two countries.

Abid Hasan MintoSenior Constitutional Lawyer

S. Nihal SinghSenior EditorPakistan's working people never favoured

war and they always craved for peace. It is our There is a general feeling about a distinct governments which vitiate the atmosphere improvement in recent times in the for their vested interests. Pakistani and atmosphere between the two countries and Indian people are only concerned about recognition of the fact that we have to get peace, their livelihood, and a better way of together to solve our problems. There exists a life. Today, we are considered poor and dialogue process between the two countries backward and the conflict between Pakistan and there are different interpretations of that and India is one of its reasons. The security-dialogue process as to whether it is composite state puts unnecessary burden of weapons, or integrated. India has always been raising army and defence budget on the poor masses, the question as to whether there is a conducive which impedes democracy. I do not hope that our establishments in near atmosphere but we should not wait for too future are going to take any decision. But we should not follow the long for that atmosphere to develop. There has governments. We should decide that we will not be the part of conflicts. We to be some kind of atmosphere before a should decide that we will negotiate under the auspices of our political parties fruitful dialogue can take place. We should not place too many conditions about the conflicts and media will not be an instrument of this war phobia before starting a dialogue. and conflict but it will try to take the people out of it. There is all the greater need for the two countries to sit down to solve their problems, otherwise both of them will have to bear the collective cost of the confrontation, which can take many forms. I do not think that anybody Abid Husseinexpects quick results in terms of solutions to such questions as Kashmir, Senior Diplomatwhich is described as the core issue by Pakistanis and an important issue by the Indian side. There are also differences as to how quickly we should get to We are not in any position to solve the issue of it. I think there is an overall tendency to grant Kashmir an important status in Kashmir through dialogue, despite all the best future talks. efforts. Then the question arises as to what is

the alternative to a dialogue? Neither India nor Pakistan can really claim that they will be able to resolve this particular issue with the help of arms. The need that we will be able to achieve anything very meaningful and very fast is perhaps not yet felt. The Northern Ireland and England do have a problem, which is still unresolved but they have good relations in terms of development. There is a

conflict between China and Taiwan and yet they have said that we can wait for history to resolve it. There is no reason as to why India and Pakistan cannot

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Behind the doorsBehind the doorsBeing watched?Being watched?

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Ishaq Khakwani, MNA, PML-Q and Vice President of PML-Q, Mr. Kabir Wasti, who also headed All Parties Reception Committee fo the conference

About confidence-buildingconfidence-building

By S. Nihal Singh

developed in the power structures and the plight of the common man, ndo-Pak problems are more than half a I routinely disregarded by both. century old, but when SAFMA organised Yet, out of this familiar thicket, there were flashes of light and understanding the gathering of parliamentarians and media and, above all, a desire to begin a new journey. The all-important question persons of the two countries in August there was: How?were, as usual, public postures and private Here again many trod familiar ground, but some participants' contributions thoughts. were noteworthy. Pakistan's I.A.Rehman sought an agreement on a holistic No one said a truer word than India's Vinod approach to peaceful relations, a dialogue and not avoiding any issue. For Kumar Sharma in suggesting that SAFMA’s India's Dinesh Trivedi peace was knocking at the door. Pakistan's Senator contribution had been to take the issues of Muhammad Ali Durani sought peace for security cataloguing three hurdles: contention from the seminar circuit into the Kashmir, underdeveloped societies breeding religious and nationalist public domain. Under the astute chairmanship extremism and water disputes. "Let us", he said, "stop the blame game - the of Pakistan's Imtiaz Alam, we met in closed- foreign hand syndrome". For India's Badal Akali Dal, the road to nirvana was door sessions on August 11 to debate questions simple: abolish visas. of war and peace. A Pakistani columnist's contribution took a poetic turn. He said: "Let us catch There was, of course, the familiar laundry list - the fair wind and sail into the future". He classed himself as an optimist, the the two countries' baggage of history, the core issue of Kashmir, the issue for him being the translation of the upsurge for peace in the irritations (and worse) created by bureaucracies, the vested interests that had subcontinent from the elite to the decision-makers. For Kanwer Khalid Younus of Pakistan, Kashmir was important, but there were other important issues such as the activities of certain religious groups in India that had alarmed him. He asked, "What are Indian MPs doing about it while our government is trying to control religious extremist groups?" India's Margaret Alva was concerned about putting confidence-building measures in place: youth exchanges, transport links, use of each other's medical facilities, encouraging trade and commerce and greater contact among women, the peace-makers. But a Pakistan participant's retort was: "When India talked about cultural exchanges, we think India wants to take over". Pakistan's former National Assembly Speaker Hamid Nasir Chatta was equally blunt. He declared: "We are talking about confidence-building measures. We cannot even play cricket at a neutral venue". For Senator Farhatullah Babar, salvation lies in a three-pronged approach: India and Pakistan must move beyond their publicly stated positions on Kashmir; tap scope for progress in other areas such as people-to-people contacts, trade, a liberal visa regime and creation of a fund for treatment of ailing children. To which an Indian representative had a simple reply, "Come

35

Whispering

Pakistani people. He was for performing "bypass surgery" on Kashmir. India's Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi partly agreed with his Pakistani counterpart in suggesting that the process of a dialogue started with a will to do so. But he asserted that cross-border infiltration was a major issue between the two countries. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Satish Nambiar of India warned that the old trodden path would lead nowhere, suggesting that Pakistan harboured misconceptions on what was happening in Kashmir. For Pakistan's Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood, the people of the two countries were forcing a change on their leaderships. The people were tired and there was no military solution to Kashmir after the nuclearisation of the subcontinent and the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. He sought a conducive atmosphere, warning that the leaderships did not trust each other. India's M.J.Akbar pleaded for removing words such as "summits" and "forward movement" from the political lexicon, pointing to the human cost 150 million Indian Muslims were paying, thanks to the state of relations between India and Pakistan. It was left to India's Ram Jethmalani to praise General Pervez Musharraf. He said: "In 10 years, if we can love each other, we'll be great". This is by no means an exhaustive catalogue of speakers or their proposals. Rather, it is an account of some significant contributions and the mood of a see India". rather representative gathering of the parliamentary and media elite of the For Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Naseer Akhtar, the nuclear issue should be tackled even two countries.before the Kashmir problem, fuelled in his view by the international arms

lobby. "Let us jettison the historical baggage. We must interact". Pakistan's M.P Bhandara gave the sober message that no government in Pakistan would survive acceptance of the Line of Control as the international border, but he, for one, was against the division of Kashmir on religious lines.

In India's Mani Shankar Aiyar's view, an Indo-Pak dialogue should not be segmented. He was for an intra-sectoral, rather than an inter-sectoral, exercise, leaving it to each side to determine how Kashmir should be discussed. But for Surendra Arora, associated with the BJP, the future lies in a sustained dialogue over a long period. Patience was his watchword: Keep Kashmir aside and build relationships in other spheres. In the view of Pakistan's Sherry Rehman, it was important to create a constituency for peace. Kashmir was a core as well as an emotional issue. Her PPP was keen to replace the jehadi structure with peace but required a stable border to accomplish it. For Pakistan's Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad Duranni, peace was a process in which priorities got determined as the two sides proceeded. Imposing conditionalities, such as end to terrorism, was unrealistic. He said it was first a question of political will whose threshold was very low; building confidence came much later. But India's Saleem Iqbal Shervani discovered a change in

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Maulana Fazalur Rehman, MNA and Amin Fahim, PPP-P sharing great interest in proceedingsMaulana Fazalur Rehman, MNA and Amin Fahim, PPP-P sharing great interest in proceedings

Contemplating

Dinesh TrivediMP , All India Trinamool Congress

We must build up a congenial atmosphere I.A.Rehman and media has now felt the need to promote Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan peace. So rather than the politicians and

bureaucrats, the media has taken the If we continue talking about conflicts and do initiative and has become the interested not address the need to bring together what is party. It can ensure that whether we are in positive among our people then the peace politics or in bureaucracy, we will not rest in process means little for South Asia and its peace till the time we achieve peace. The people. Putting our resources together is world at large is interested in supplying arms more important than dealing with ticklish and in conflict. We do not realise that we issues and conflicts. cannot talk about prosperity without talking

about peace as they are inter-related. The next conflict is going to be about In fact the more we will learn about each other, the better we will be able to

economy, gas and water issues. resolve the conflicts. At the same time, let's not forget that we belong to the

Both of our countries are primarily agricultural and we know in villages that privileged part of the population of the subcontinent. There is a conspiracy

the fight is over water. People want water for their fields and survival. In a between the governments of the region that they will not extend the

world operating in trade blocks like ASEAN and European Union, our future privileges, facilities and concessions enjoyed by the privileged to the ordinary

lies in SAARC. There is no point in easing visa restrictions and opening citizens.

boundaries until there is a free flow of goods and services. We must break away some psychological barriers.

They will not make rail traffic easier so that people can join their divided families, they will not improve their postal services, though they can establish hot lines between military officers. We must include in our deliberations and

Senator Muhammad Ali Durani efforts specific measures and activities designed to enable the common General Secretary MPcitizens of India and Pakistan to feel that they are equally entitled to have

those doors opened, which are reserved for the privileged now. It is also Our objective should be peace for prosperity.

necessary that we deprive the states of the monopoly on their lives. The states Why we are not achieving that target is

have their compulsions, and their bureaucracies have their own ways of because we have not prepared our people for

denying the people the fruits of freedom and labour. t h a t . B o t h i n I n d i a a n d P a k i s t a n , intellectuals, politicians, civil society We must open the possibilities for political parties so that they shouldn't only activists and the common man want peace. be concerned with capturing power but their agenda must include what is We should give the common man something dearest to the people of subcontinent. I believe, they must bring trade unions so that he can feel involved in the process of into their ranks and must pay attention to the very vibrant women movement peace and that can lead to prosperity. The in both the countries. Let's listen to what women have to say. We have to first obstacle in the process of peace is approach the issues in the holistic manner. It does not mean only that we Kashmir issue, the second obstacle is the attempt all issues together, it also means that all issues are addressed by all under developed state of our societies.people together. Religious extremism is playing a role in our societies and also between the two countries to keep us apart. But at the same time, we observe national extremism that is also playing a negative role. Then there comes the water

37

dispute, which has the potential of destabilising the relations in future. Next Irshad Ahmed Haqqaniobstacle are groups with vested interests; they are religious, political and Senior Editor economic groups. In the light of these obstacles, there are perceived threats of conventional military build up, ongoing arms race, nuclear and missile Prime Minister Vajpayee's speech of 18th threat. Economic concerns and cultural invasion are two other threats on April has generated an upsurge in South Asia both sides of the divide. for peace, friendship, negotiations and for As far as the Line of Control is concerned, we can involve SAARC in its resolving differences. This spontaneous monitoring. We should also invite the organisation to play some role in the upsurge is not baseless. Awareness about a resolution of the issues outstanding between the two countries. century's blunders and realisation of the

need of time is the motivating force behind this. Both Indians and Pakistanis here are repenting on the loss of time and opportunity Sardar Zora Singh Mann

MP, Shiromani Akali Dal for peace that has resulted in the How to establish good relation between the backwardness and undeveloped state of both two countries is an important issue. We the countries. Now we should compensate this loss and efforts should be should open trade between both states as made to strengthen this realisation on both sides. If this realisation and economically, it will benefit both the desire for having peace is not transferred from intellectuals, politicians and countries where goods are imported through journalists up to the level of ruling elite which is supposed to take decisions, sea. Trade can play a crucial role in then these confidence-building measures will not be of much to us. developing interaction between both the countries. All borders like Wahgah and Kanwer Khalid YounisSuleman should be opened to promote trade. MNA, MQMVisa restriction should be eased to facilitate people. Another important point is Kashmir is an important issue but there are education. We spend money on atoms and some other important issues to be discussed.

missiles, if that money will be spent on education then our future generation One of them is the rights and plight of will have a broader perspective. We should pay attention toward r e l i g i o u s m i n o r i t i e s . T h e r i s e o f unemployment and education. Our cultural traditions especially of Punjab communalism in India is alarming, so is the are related with Pakistan. If visa policy will be eased then we can visit the spread of religious fundamentalism in shrines of Nankana Sahib and Punja Sahib. We should together move Pakistan. If religious extremism is not towards progress. tackled, then these extremists will not be

content even after having their way into Kashmir. There is another issue of visa. The Prabash Joshipeople who live in Karachi have their Columnistrelatives in 350 districts of India. But the

Delivering a lecture and moving emotions is not what we need by way of only border point open between India and Pakistan is Wahgah. Hopefully, building confidence among us because we have too much of it. We will never when our relations become stronger then new points will also open. After be able to get down to those things which divide us, unless we understand 20/30 years, both India and Pakistan will need some more agreements on them also. Extending and promoting friendship and oneness is good but it is water projects. Why cannot we have some understanding and not enough to solve the problem. We will be doing the same thing for the communication on the type of water system we require? Both the countries whole of next century if we do not create an understanding of the issues we should sit together to find out ways so that the river system remains beneficial are facing. for both states for another hundred years.

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Kashmala Tariq MNA, PML-Q

Smt. Margaret AlvaWe have to address the core issue and that is

MP, INCKashmir. When we say that we can leave behind that issue and can go to addressing We have to distinguish between conflict- cross-border terrorism, we are just resolution and conflict-management. scratching the surface again and again. It is Conflict-resolution should be left to the time to decide whether we want a solution or experts and to groups on both sides, who can not. We cannot ignore to promote our trade deal with the nitty-gritty. There are two relationship as WTO is approaching and issues between India and Pakistan: Kashmir leave other issues for the time being. We have and cross-border terrorism. These are the to take all the issues as a package and address two issues, which need to be looked at them simultaneously. We have to bring a separately. People-to-people contacts should permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. This issue can be solved if we would be improved. As the people get to know each other better, there are more follow these four steps. Firstly, we must decide if Kashmir issue should be opportunities to exchange your views.discussed or not. Secondly, we have to negotiate if we want a solution. At the third step, we should bring proposals from both sides. Then we will have to Confidence building will automatically take place and there will be less short list those proposals. If we decide to resolve the issue then we can reach suspicion and less fear of each other. There are some areas; where at some concrete and final point. cooperation is possible given the present situation between the two

countries, like exchange of youth and students. Then come sports contacts, which are very important.

Vinod Kumar Sharma Senior Journalist Second is the whole question of transport. We have opened the bus route but

railways and air links need to be restored, so that people can move more The most significant aspect of this interaction freely across the borders. The third part is religious pilgrimages. The fourth is is that no political party is speaking on behalf the question of medical facilities and treatment to be opened to both of government. In recent years, the mindsets countries. We have the example of Noor, a child of the subcontinent. Nobody politicians have created on either side of the looked at her as being a Pakistani or Hindu or Muslim. border are not really helpful in resolving matters. Now the participation by political Next is the question of trade and commerce and, ultimately, it is commerce parties across the political spectrum is a that makes the world go around. Agriculture is another subject, which we can happy gesture. It is a milestone which we have talk about. The fifth one is media and communication channels. Why are you achieved. We have created an element of blocking the Indian TV channels when Pakistani channels are watched in curiosity at the mass level by arranging this India? The last is contact between women of the two countries. The women of conference and when people ask questions, the subcontinent need to increase their contacts. the answers can be sorted out.

Let's find answers rather than always talk about the problems. Pandit Nehru said “I do not want you to be the part of problem, I want you to be the part of the solution” and that is what we have to talk about.

39

Mrs. N. P. DurgaMP, TDP

People to people contacts and exchange of Hamid Nasir Chatta, delegations are necessary. Both the countries MNA, President PML-J do not have an extradition treaty between

them. Prime Minister Vajpayee has already There is no doubt about the need of good made this proposal to President Musharraf. relations between India and Pakistan. We are In order to understand each other, sports can neighbours and should have good relations. play a very pivotal role, so both the There is no conflict more dangerous than the governments should allow cricket and conflict between two neighbours because hockey matches. It is very unfortunate that they are so close to each other that anything the Pakistan government has banned all the can happen at any time. There is the human Indian TV channels. This is one area through issue like the divided families. There is which we can have a better understanding of the people. Economic relations

economic issue like trade but the most important of all is top-heavy defence are crucial for smooth relations between the two countries. We must start expenditure, which both the countries are incurring and which they can least South Asian Free Trade Area. If we can resume our Delhi-Lahore bus service, afford. If these resources can be used to improve the quality of life of the why cannot we restore our air and rail links? people, imagine the progress we will make in five years.

Confidence-building measures are easy to talk about. We have had cultural, Dr. Salman Shah,sporting and trade relations in the past but what is the result today. Trade is Economist

stopped and we cannot even play a game of cricket on a neutral venue. Unless all the issues are addressed simultaneously, the confidence-building

We need to compare South Asia with East measures will end up in the same way as they had in the past.

Asia because fifty-five years ago both the regions started from the same kind of base-

The core issues between India and Pakistan are not of the nature which can be line and, perhaps, South Asia had better

resolved over night. It will take a lot of effort, thinking, and sacrifice on both basics than East Asia. Today, East Asia has

sides in order to achieve result on major issues. There are issues like Kashmir, the per capita income in access of thousand

cross-border terrorism, water issue, and the communal problem, but all dollars compared to South Asia per capita

these issues have to be addressed seriously along the confidence-building income of 450 dollars. Too much of this lost

measures so that peace process is not derailed. opportunity was due to the poor economic policies but a great deal of this was due to the If the people of both the countries feel that their governments are sincerely belligerence of the last fifty-five years. Most making an effort to resolve the core issue, the confidence-building measures of this lost opportunity was due to the state of affairs between India and will go on improving. Nothing is going to work unless both sides work Pakistan. sincerely to resolve the major issues simultaneously, while taking But the loss of environment for development translates it into hundreds of confidence-building measures.billions of dollars in Pakistan alone. The total loss is around 600 billion dollars and, at least, half of this is due to poor environment in this country. If in South Asia we had treated tourism as a business, in five years we could have generated around 25 billion dollars of economic activity just because of tourism. It is time that we look at these issues from an economic point of view,

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which helps to make an environment in which we can discuss our political up the most exciting news story and blows it out of all proportion to serve its issues as well. We should be able to drive from Lahore to Delhi and you to purposes. Let's institutionalise a programme to have a public service TV. Lahore. Money will come from the market. There is a lot of enthusiasm on both sides Secondly, if we look at the volume of trade the ASEAN countries are doing of the border to find out what is happening. We can have interactive among themselves, it is ten percent of their GDP. India and Pakistan do trade programmes, but it is only possible when there will be a complete explosion of among themselves, which is less than half a percent of their GDP. If we reach media in the subcontinent. the ASEAN level, we will be talking about 60 billion dollar of trade in South Asia alone. This economic activity has the potential of changing the lives of people in this region. Trade has impacts, which will help our economies to

Senator Farhatullah Babar, become more efficient. The benefit of better competitiveness in South Asia PPP-Pwill help the entire region to grow much faster.

Mutual reduction of forces, by say 30 percent after five and ten years can save I would like to focus on confidence-building

billions dollars for human development. That is where we need to invest. We measures and conflict-resolution in two

have to have a growth rate of ten percent plus and it is achievable if we are able areas: one is Kashmir and the other is

to settle our problems.nuclear. Kashmir has been at the center of the dispute between Pakistan and India, which has led us to three wars and the induction of Shri Krishnaswamy nuclear capability in the two countries. It has MP, Smata Partyadded to the urgency of resolving the issues.

Everybody talks about peace but India and Pakistan are fighting over a piece The danger of a nuclear conflict has increased of Jammu & Kashmir land. To develop friendly relationship and goodwill and we must address it by suggesting some with Pakistan, the hospitals of India are very much interested in providing measures. medical treatment to the Pakistani children. Both the countries are facing

First, both countries must categorically announce that they will not flaunt poverty where a large sum of money is being spent on defence. We should nuclear weapons. Second, the two countries should take unilateral and spend that money on development and for the welfare of the poor and weak bilateral measures to reduce the nuclear risk factor. The important unilateral sections of society. Both the countries do not trust each other. They should measure that Pakistan can take is to transfer commands and control prepare a draft to get suggestions from political parties. If we want to build structure of the nuclear weapons to the civilian government.confidence, we will have to negotiate and we should welcome cultural

exchanges. We should exchange our technology, electricity, and allow trade. The bilateral measure, which India and Pakistan can take, is on the nuclear risk reduction by setting up nuclear risk reduction centers, which can ensure how an accidental and pre-emptive nuclear strike can be averted. Saiyidul Saiyidain NaqviIf the nuclear weapons in the two countries are in an assembled state and they Senior Columnistare on the delivery systems, then the time factor between the decisions to launch a nuclear weapon and to actually launch is very short. Nuclear risk As we now have an explosion of media on the reduction centers can examine the possibility of keeping the nuclear weapons one hand, we have government or state-in an unassembled form.owned media in both the countries on the

other hand. We have an almost anarchic In the structure of relations between India and Pakistan, Kashmir occupies a exuberant growth of private electronic central position. Neither has war nor have the United Nation's resolutions media. But there is something missing in helped in resolving the dispute. Both the countries must declare that they are both the countries and that is public service prepared to move beyond their respective publically stated positions. It will television. A market driven television picks

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open the door for the dialogue. The two sides should recognise that while they The need is to remove all biases and malice from the hearts to develop a keep their respective positions on Kashmir, there is scope for forward trading block in South Asia and to adopt Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan and movement in other areas like people to people contacts, trade and relaxation Gandhi's philosophy of “non-violence”. Prime Minister Vajpayee's speech in of visa regimes. Srinagar and then the statement of Prime Minister Jamali in his response

encouraged the business community to visit India resulting in different Relations between India and Pakistan shouldn't be held hostage to the single agreements. issue of Kashmir. How about setting up a fund between India and Pakistan, which will take care of the sick children from both the countries, who are too Still today our official trade is of 200 million dollars and unofficial one is of poor to undergo advance medical treatment? Pakistan should declare that it another 200 million dollar mainly being done through a third country. Free is against foreign militancy in Kashmir. We also advocate soft borders so that trade between both the countries will benefit the poor because this will enable people can move freely. them to get commodities on cheaper rates, instead of continuing to facilitate

multi-national companies. Another confidence-building measure can be to improve the communication channels between the two countries. We presently have hotlines between the DG's of military operation. Why not to have a hotline between the political Abani Royleaders and probably also between the parliamentarians of the two countries. MP, RSPThe government of Pakistan should reiterate its commitment to Simla agreement and Lahore Declaration. What has been lacking is a monitoring We are talking about the Line of Control but and implementing agency of what has already been publicly committed by we are not taking care of the line of poverty. the political leaders of the two countries. People of both the countries want peace for

prosperity and progress because without I would ask both the countries to consider the possibility of setting up a peace, there will be no prosperity. South Asian Monitoring Agency with the sole job to monitor and consider the possibility of implementing commitments publicly made by the leaders of the We, the parliamentarians who are fighting two countries. for the poor people should be able to unite the

people because we have come here to build up unity among masses toiling under

Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilour poverty. ANP

I wish that trade barriers are removed and the monopoly of multinational companies is diminished through the revival of trade and business relations between India and Pakistan. Lifting of barriers between both the countries will bring competitiveness in the market.

Pakistan is much developed in cotton sector, which could facilitate India in export. SAARC has not become a trading block due to the main players- India and Pakistan.

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Behind the doorsBehind the doorsDreaming valley in the company of most beautiful?Dreaming valley in the company of most beautiful?

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dialogue. Hostility between India and Pakistan has dangerously fuelled Ram Nath Kovindreligious fundamentalism and national chauvinism leading to extremism MP, BJPwhich should be corrected. It can only be done with the improvement of

We can change friends but we can never relations between the two countries. change our neighbours. While talking on

With a view to create a conducive environment for dialogue, Pakistan had Kashmir, we cannot ignore cross-border made a quantum jump by agreeing to check cross-border movement. Both terrorism. Those who advocate the cause of India and Pakistan have become aware of the fact that it is in the interest of humanity must realise that terrorism is the the international arms lobby to keep the dispute alive. greatest crime against humanity.

They will be wise if they do not spend money on arms that can be spent on We cannot say that humanity is only for development. The mindset of the people needs a change. Before dialogue is Muslim community. We must not speak with resumed, a close interaction between the political leaderships of both the double standards. What we need today is to countries should take place. This was lacking when the Agra Summit was think about the to cross-border terrorism. held. We have to choose between our emotions and wisdom.

We cannot achieve anything without mutual confidence. We could find a Every political party of India is supportive to the peace initiative taken by system to patrolling the LoC by independent organisations. Similarly, the Prime Minister Vajpayee. When we talk about Kashmir then it makes sense if understanding on de-militarisation of Siachin glacier should be we talk about the whole Kashmir and not one part of it. Terrorism is terrorism implemented. The people of Kashmir are suffering at the hands of law whether it is in Indian territory or Pakistan territory. We have to condemn it enforcing agencies. and discourage it.

This human rights issue needs to be addressed to enable the people to find out There is a myth that Kashmiris want an independent Kashmir. But in the last the solutions. We should also cease the overt and covert propaganda and elections everybody participated in a democratic process. A conducive media campaign against each other. We must realise the need to reduce atmosphere is the basic thing for sitting together. It is the obligation of the tension as far as nuclear arsenal is concerned and eliminate the risk of parliamentarians on both sides to create an atmosphere of goodwill, peace nuclear war. Nuclear issues should be tackled before the Kashmir issue is and harmony. We must involve more people like trade unionists, advocates resolved. and doctors etc, who can certainly help in the process of creating a positive

atmosphere. There should be an exchange programme between the senior military officers of the two countries, which will help in improving the relationship and overcoming the misgivings. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Naseer Akhtar

The dialogue experience has not been very constructive in the past. It was due Since late 1989 Kashmir problem has become to the absence of the track-II and the public opinion was not built so that linked to the larger question of war and peace governments could take decision. Therefore, the track-II should continue to in South Asia. The freedom movement build public opinion. among the Kashmiri Muslims in the valley

and Srinagar created a serious crisis but India and Pakistan have not handled it carefully then nuclear war could start accidentally. Kashmir issue should be resolved through a genuine and purposeful

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Sherry RehmanMNA, PPP-P

Dileep PadgaonkarPakistan People's Party has always stood for

Executive Editor, The Times of Indiadeveloping cordial and warm relations with India for establishing a peace process that The gravity of the Kashmir problem should favours just and honourable solutions to all not be undermined by anybody. For the last outstanding issues. fifty years, efforts have been made to address

the issue and have failed to resolve it. As far as We should start by trying to sort out the visa

Kashmir is concerned, all kinds of strategies, restriction, cultural and trade agreements.

wars, suppression and internationalisation of The visa facility has been agreed upon in 1989

the issue have been adopted and they do not at the SAARC Conference. To sustain the

seem to have worked. peace process and to dismantle terrorism, we should be looking at two principles. One of them is the principle of There is a feeling among the Kashmiris that they want peace but with honour reciprocity. and dignity. This is one of the reasons why Kashmir committee has worked to

see whether something can be done to initiate a process whereby Kashmiris If Pakistan is asked to support India in dismantling terrorism then Pakistan

are able to engage in a dialogue at various levels among themselves; between is to ask for demilitarisation of the valley. We can talk about joint patrolling.

Kashmiris in the two countries, between the separate groups in Srinagar and The peace process needs to be taken as an end in itself. Uninterruptibility is

in Delhi, etc. Whenever Kashmir is discussed, the focus is primarily on the very important for this process.

Valley. When we say Kashmir then it means the whole Kashmir.

I urge people to consider placing verification and monitoring mechanism. A APHC has agreed that when discussions do begin, all sides will have to rise

South Asian Monitoring mechanism is essential for the monitoring of all the above their traditional positions and abandon the extremist stands. We must

CBM's between India and Pakistan. move forward on the basis of this framework. A certain number of developments could derail this process before even the dialogue has started.

M. P. BhandaraOne such possible danger is that if there is another major terrorist attack in MNA, PML-Q India this would be good enough reason to stop the dialogue. Once people start meeting across the border it would invite greater trade and No state can ever have any luck with terrorists. understanding. Once the government of Pakistan lifts the ban on the Indian Indian parliamentarians should help Pakistan channels, there will be a greater hope of Pakistani people being able to in finding out as to how we can satisfy India's understand the Indians in a better way. concern on so-called cross-border terrorism.

In this regard, you have the Jack Straw proposal like helicopter surveillance, which was rejected by New Delhi.

There have been several proposals on electronic fencing but certain parts of LoC are immune to modern electronic fencing. There should be patrolling on both sides.

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The concerned authorities of India and Pakistan should get together to take political situation and economic resources in Kashmir is also changing and steps to put an end to cross-border terrorism because this is indeed the policy the nature of options that India and Pakistan have, for bringing about a good of government of Pakistan. Pakistan should appreciate that no further and satisfactory peace in the entire subcontinent. division is possible in J&K on any communal basis. India must appreciate that no government in Islamabad can survive the acceptance of LoC as an Aman Ullah Khaninternational border. Chairman JKLF

We used weapons to raise this issue of Pakistan must appreciate that there are less Kashmiris but there are hundred Kashmir, which was previously ignored and and fifty million Muslims in India so whatever we do we should take it into misused afterwards. Kashmir is neither a account that the interests of the Kashmiris are not only protected but also part of India nor a part of Pakistan. The rights what likely impact it is going to have on Muslims in India. Pakistan should of Kashmiris have been accepted by the make its policies less Kashmir centered. My favoured solution is the one leaders of India, Pakistan and the already applied in Endora, which was a controversial issue between France international community. and Spain. Article 370 can lead to the blurring of borders and it should lead to some sort of independence for the Valley. If both the countries fulfill their promise, the

problem of Kashmir can be solved. We are neither the enemies of state of India nor of Talib Hussain Pakistan. We started fighting to give a new MP, National Conference life to the Kashmir cause but not to kill

people. India and Pakistan made this issue a national ego problem, which Is there any role for the poor Kashmiris in they should have avoided. It should not disturb the national security of both this changing scenario? There is a need to the states and their legitimate interests. Both the countries have never solved structure this dialogue in such a way that it any issue. carries on uninterruptedly and becomes uninterruptible. First at the level of Only third party mediation can solve this issue, but not necessarily America. parliamentarians, then negotiations should Let there be one friend each from India and Pakistan and one well wisher of begin to reach the level of summit. There Kashmiris to give them equal presentation. Unless the solution is based on should be talks about talks first. the unfettered will of Kashmiris it will not last.

The solution is to re-unite Kashmir and to make it an independent state with a democratic system of government. It should be federal with five provinces and secular as well guaranteeing equal rights to non-Muslims. The

Prem Shankar Jha independent Kashmir should develop good relations with both India and Columnist Pakistan.

I favour opening up Kashmir in stages, of course. Then tourism and trade should eventually come to play their role with the full implementation of SAFTA. In all the discourses, what is being missed out is that Kashmir has its life of its own. Kashmiris have their own aspirations. The nature of

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Seema Mustafa Abdul Hayye BalochPolitical Editor, Asian Age President BNM

Both countries have suffered a lot when they Both the countries should resolve all disputes, decided to undertake nuclear explosions. including Kashmir, in a peaceful manner. India lost its conventional military When India and China, despite having a advantage. We were placed under sanctions border dispute, can move forward to which have taken their toll. Both the cooperate in various fields then why cannot countries did not earn the respect they India and Pakistan discover a peaceful way? initially wanted as nuclear states. When we

We can mobilise different forums like those of had our armies facing each other across the journalists, lawyers and doctors. We have Line of Control, we did not have any well wasted our resources on wars that could have defined command and control structure. been spent on development. There was a threat of jihadi takeover of

Pakistan's nuclear programme but that was the propaganda coming out not Now there is an environment in which all political parties in Pakistan support from New Delhi but from Washington. There was no communication peace and believe in resolving all issues with the neighbouring country mechanism at any level. Any single gesture and misunderstanding could have through negotiation. resulted in a nuclear mishap.

It is the responsibility of the parliamentarians and the media to ensure that both governments as a pre-requisite establish a communication network which is not suspended under any provocation. When we talk about Kashmir then the question arises as to what we are going to discuss on the issue. I see human rights violation in Kashmir and same in Gujrat. I feel lack of development in Jammu & Kashmir but the same is true in UP and Bihar. I respect Kashmeiriat which has kept Jammu & Kashmir together. The level of secularism in Kashmir has to be seen, appreciated and understood.

There are other linkages between India and Kashmir despite their alienation. There is fifty six years of association. When it decided to become the part of India, it strengthened the forces in New Delhi at that time and they were able to ward off the communal forces. Any move to take the valley away will weaken secularism in India. We have committed human rights violations and we are playing with article 370 every single day in Kashmir. The solution to Kashmir at one level lies within India if there is a political change and a change in our mindset towards Jammu & Kashmir then we can be able to bring development to the region and ensure free and fair elections. If we have joint patrolling of LoC we will be able to settle that matter to some level and be able to take the peace process forward. Peace is not just that you get Kashmir and we put an end to cross-border terrorism. It has also to do with people-to- people relations with open borders and all the CBM's.

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A leading BJP MP from Rajisthan

Waiving the peace file48

Closing ceremonyPresidium : (Left to Right) Saiyidul Saiyidain Naqvi, senior columnist, Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, senior editor, Vinod Kumar Sharma, Vice President SAFMA India, K.K. Katyal, President SAFMA India, Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Imtiaz Alam, General Secretary SAFMA, Reazuddin Ahmed, President SAFMA and M. Ziauddin President SAFMA Pakistan

49

welcome. The task of this conference had been made easier by the exchanges of visits by selected groups of parliamentarians and businessmen earlier on both sides.

I am glad that you chose the theme of “Understanding, Confidence-building and Conflict-resolution”. You will find an echo o f t h i s t h e m e i n o u r p o l i c y pronouncements. If we want to resolve problems in South Asia, we should not be just focused on crisis and conflict management, but we should take concrete steps for conflict resolution. For that, clear understanding credible, and doable confidence-building measures are essential pre-requisites.

The people of this region have a vision, of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia where we accept each other as sovereign in our quest for peace and prosperity. The Government and the people of Pakistan,

sharing the above vision, would like to join hands with their brethren from other countries of South Asia in the achievement of their dreams. We in Pakistan have no other desire or intention than to live in peace and harmony with all our neighbours.

We seek resolution of all outstanding issues including Jammu & Kashmir through a peaceful process of dialogue and constructive engagements. The t is a great pleasure for me to address the concluding session of the expansion of people to people links through increased exchanges could play a IConference of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) in role in building an environment of understanding and conflict between the Islamabad. Our government has always encouraged free media in Pakistan two countries.and we have created an environment in which the media can work with

complete independence. That is why, our media is so independent and I would like to take this opportunity to speak about the recent attempts to vibrant today. The SAFMA Conference has been convened at a crucial defuse tension between India and Pakistan. Both the countries have taken moment in the history of South Asia. A process of engagement has been some reciprocal steps. President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir initiated by the leaderships of Pakistan and India. The atmosphere is imbued Zafarullah Khan Jamali have responded positively to Prime Minister Atal with expectation and hope. Behari Vajpayee's statesmanlike speech of 18th April in Srinagar.

The question on everybody's mind is: Will India and Pakistan seize the We are willing to go the extra mile in order to narrow our differences. moment and move towards peace or not? It is in this context that the participation of distinguished parliamentarians, journalists and opinion It is imperative that we enter into a composite and sustained process and makers of diverse persuasions and affiliations in the SAFMA Conference is simultaneously move forward on all issues including Kashmir, economic

SAFMA builds builds bridgesbridges

50

Foreign Minister Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri addressing the Concluding SessionForeign Minister Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri addressing the Concluding Session

cooperation, cultural exchanges and sporting links etc. To achieve this we would have to encourage interaction at all levels.

Trade and economic cooperation cannot grow in a vacuum and less than friendly political environment. We sincerely believe that a peaceful and secure environment in the region is of vital importance for the promotion of meaningful economic c o o p e r a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t .It is with that desire that Pakistan makes a conscious effort to pursue a policy of friendship and quality with all its neighbours. Pakistan has good relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. Improvements of relations with India remain, therefore, a matter of top priority for us.

War is not an option between India and Pakistan. The only alternative is to talk on all issues of concern to both the countries including of course Jammu and Kashmir; talk substantively; and talk with a view to achieving results. We should have a sustainable dialogue, uninterrupted and

two countries in 1997 and 1998. We do not have to reinvent the wheel. This uninterruptible, that would yield a solution.

agenda, along with the elements agreed to at Agra-which unfortunately could not be endorsed-can provide the basis for a comprehensive dialogue between

I am glad that High Commissioners of Pakistan and India are once again India and Pakistan. heading their mission in Delhi and Islamabad respectively. The bus service has been restored. The talks on air links and related issues will be held in

The Agra Summit which remains a testimony to the statesmanship of Islamabad later this month. We have proposed to India to help resume the

President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee could Samjhota Express, which is used by the bulk of the Pakistani and India

still become a memorable milestone if the progress achieved there is travelers. We have released Indian prisoners as has India some of ours.

developed into a forward looking approach and built into an agreement However, there is an imperative need to initiate a dialogue process

regarding the architecture for peace process and dialogue.immediately. Let us start talking at the level of the Foreign Secretaries. A composite and integrated dialogue is the answer, and it will generate its own

Regarding Kashmir, President Pervez Musharraf had presented a four-point momentum and pace for incremental gains.

formula at Agra which shows a lot of flexibility and remains a valid basis for progress on this issue: 1: India and Pakistan recognise Jammu and Kashmir

The 8-point agenda for talks was worked out by the foreign secretaries to the as a dispute; 2: India and Pakistan start a meaningful and sustained dialogue;

www.southasianmedia.netSAFMA’s website

Islamabad

launching

Foreign Minister Khurshied Kusuri launches the South Asian Media Net, as Webmaster Abdullah Iqbal and Editor Imtiaz Alam watchForeign Minister Khurshied Kusuri launches the South Asian Media Net, as Webmaster Abdullah Iqbal and Editor Imtiaz Alam watch

51

At the special session of the SAARC Committee, a consensus was reached on the dates for the 12th SAARC Summit to be held in Pakistan on January 4-6, 2004. We should avail of the opportunity of SAARC Summit in Islamabad to make the organisation an effective instrument for realising the aspirations of our people. Pakistan looks forward to the visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Foreign Minister Yaswant Sinha to Pakistan on that occasion and Indian contribution to making the Summit a success. I feel that the visit of the Indian Parliamentarians and other representatives of the media and public opinion have a positive impact and create the right atmosphere for initiation of sustained dialogue process between the two countries. I could not think since I myself have been involved in track-II diplomacy and attempts to improve relations between Pakistan and India. On the basis of my experience in the past as a track-II person and currently as Foreign Minister of Pakistan, I would suggest that both track-II and track-I have to act in tandem. One could not be substitute for the other. Admittedly track-II efforts can help promote understanding and confidence between our two countries in tackling outstanding issues. The role of organisation like 3: The two sides begin by negating solutions that all not acceptable to either SAFMA would remain important in building bridges of understanding and side. 4: Let all the parties work towards a solution that would be acceptable to confidence between the peoples of South Asia. I thank the organisers for the India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, who have the greatest stake in opportunity to share my thoughts with you on the issues of peace, security peace; this is because it is clear that for peace to be durable in the and development that confront us in South Asia. Many of you have subcontinent the aspirations of the people of Kashmir have to be taken into distinguished yourselves in public service, journalism and diplomacy. You consideration. This is a realistic offer. We can still pick up the pieces and have innovative ideas, which can provide a useful guide to the policy work towards a meaningful dialogue which will address the aspirations of the formulation process. Our governments have more daunting tasks. We hope people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the same spirit as mentioned in the two that we can convert this moment of opportunity into a sustained initiative of a proceeding paragraphs that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has dialogue process between the two countries for peace based on justice, which spoken of the need for both sides to show flexibility in his meeting with the will usher in greater prosperity and progress for the people of South Asia.Indian Parliamentarians at the Prime Minister's House this afternoon.

Foreign Minister Mr. Kusuri with Ram Vilas Paswan and the familyForeign Minister Mr. Kusuri with Ram Vilas Paswan and the family

52

Enters Ayaz Amir, senior columnist Enters Ayaz Amir, senior columnist Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar with Mr. Katyal, Vinod Sharma,

Nusrat Javed and Mustansar JavedForeign Secretary Riaz Khokhar with Mr. Katyal, Vinod Sharma,

Nusrat Javed and Mustansar Javed

53

Mani Shankar AiyarMP, INCSherry Rehman

MNA, PPP-PFor having successful India Pakistan dialogue, we should ensure that it is not segmented. There is an information deficit about the When it is segmented, given the traditions of issues that bedeviled the relations between the two civil services, then it becomes India and Pakistan. There has been a deficit extremely difficult to change a position. of a serious discourse and a dialogue. The Also so long as the dialogue is segmented, all exchanges of parliamentarians and other the trade offs have to be intra-sectoral delegations can help to start substantive whereas successful dialogue requires inter-dialogue. It not only brings people closer, but sectoral trade off. If you have segmented it also puts pressure for the construction of dialogue on defence between the two defense pace and normalisation of relations between secretaries, all the give and take has to be the two countries.within the defence sector. But if you have the non-segmented dialogue then what one side apparently loses, on say defence, can make up for it in another We are now talking about a composite dialogue but this was an old Bhutto sector, say trade. doctrine and we should see the process as an end in itself and not as a means We should have a composite and an integrated dialogue. So that we are able to an end. We can go further with such a process without prejudice to to discuss a wide range of subjects without waiting for another meeting to anyone's position. Kashmir is an emotional issue for Pakistanis and it is take up an issue that has been closed in a previous meeting. Another something, which cannot be put aside. Similarly, the biggest hurdle coming advantage of this that we will be thus able to address a range of issues without from our neighbour India has officially been the issue of cross-border getting caught up with priorities. If you have an integrated dialogue, rather terrorism. than a segmented one, then the interlocutors could decide in advance what is the subject they wish to take up? Instead of wasting all our time determining I hope that we will be able to talk without any conditionality about each whether we discuss Kashmir first and railways links next, we just leave it to other’s concerns. If we are talking about stabilising borders, one party cannot each side to determine what the priorities are? Such a process will afford the be the jury and judge. We have always recommended that the Line of Control opportunity for us to protect the dialogue from the outside influences of ups be made softer and stable. If our Indian friends have an issue with cross-and downs between India and Pakistan.border terrorism then we can devise monitoring systems. It is time that both It is not that Pakistan and India have never had a dialogue before, but no sides show flexibility and political will to address this issue. dialogue is allowed to persist. Something or the other happens either in Islamabad or in New Delhi to break the dialogue and then it gets resumed If we keep putting conditionality and refusing to go forward then we are again sometimes beginning at exactly the point where we had started going to find that we will have a roadmap imposed on us like the one imposed previously. Therefore, for a dialogue to be successful, it has to be in the Middle East and I think that is the fear running through the veins of the uninterrupted and uninterruptible. I think the parliamentary traditions in Indian leadership. If we are not willing to show flexibility then why are we India and Pakistan can offer an opportunity how this could be done. talking? It is time to solve our problems like mature countries. We need to I would suggest that a dialogue when it is structured must be given a zero take confidence-building measures not only on the military side but also on hour in which Pakistani side arrives and makes all the complaints that it nuclear command and control system and perhaps, we need to have joint wishes to . And we then use the same zero hour to make all our complaints commissions. about current problems of India and Pakistan relations. This would enable both sides to go back to their countries and to say that no national interest is being neglected. After each side has brought up its own complaints, they can go into the structured format.

We could have a situation where in the first round Pakistan discusses Balbir Punj, Kashmir and India discusses visas and in the second round Pakistan MP, BJPdiscusses Kashmir and India brings up water, in the third round Pakistan discusses Kashmir and India talks about rail links, in the forth round When we initiate with summits then we have Pakistan discusses Kashmir and then India brings forward air links. In this to descend in any case. We should follow step

by step policy as far as India and Pakistan way, Pakistan's priority related with Kashmir is never down graded and the relations are concerned and should stop at Indian side for its part can take up whatever it regards as the key issue. every step rather than to come back and start India certainly, since October 1993, when PM Narasima Rao wrote a letter to again from the zero point. PM Benazir Bhutto, had committed to discussing all outstanding questions,

including issues related to Jammu & Kashmir. I do not think that Indian side Our trade terms are now worse than what they anymore has any problem about discussing any aspect of the question of were in 1950-1952, but the ratio of non-official Jammu & Kashmir. It is amazing to see as to how little do the people of India trade between India and Pakistan depicts that know about the reasons behind J&K being a core issue for Pakistan. people of both the countries want to fulfill the Similarly, the people in Pakistan know little as to why J&K is an important needs of each other.

issue for India. So if we were to begin with a hundred percent statement of our stated positions then there is the possibility that the other side understands

Both the countries are facing same problems like poverty, unemployment, 10 percent of it. People ask what will be the outcome of the dialogue? If I knew

and the unavailability of drinking water. The resources of both the countries what the outcome of a dialogue would be I don’t need a dialogue. can be allocated for the welfare of people, which are being spent on defence.

Ishaq Khan KhakawaniSarla Maheshwari MNA, PML-QMP, CPI-M

We all share the goal of promoting peace and Both the countries should have the courage stability in South Asia. The fate of over a and determination to solve not only Kashmir billion people depends on this. We, the but other enormous issues. The writers of both representatives in Pakistan are committed to the countries have neither violated the borders improving the life of people. India has

regional and global aspirations and finds nor favoured war. Pakistan a hindrance in achieving this goal. India's political parties should therefore, play They always favour peace as literature always a role to be friend not only with Pakistan but precedes politics. Books written in one with all small neighbours in order to create an country, therefore, should be easily available environment for peace and progress. in the other. One of the options before the Indian

government is the use of force to intimidate the small neighbours. The second The writers should be allowed to travel and option is a peaceful negotiated resolution of its problems with its neighbours. interact with each other freely to make an atmosphere, conducive for peace. It is time to give a chance to the second option. It is the duty of Pakistani We should forget about pre-conditions and should start negotiations. parliamentarians to make the Pakistani public understand and to make a convincing case about normalising its ties with India. I urge Indian delegates to exert pressure on their government to extend an olive branch to the Kashmiri people.

54

Irshad Ahmed Haqqani Reazuddin AhmedSenior Editor President , SAFMA

I think this process of friendship between I did not engage myself India and Pakistan will continue. The hand of actively in this conference friendship extended from Srinagar made the because I am neither from people of subcontinent excited. The India nor from Pakistan. I atmosphere is positive now and we should am from third country, promote this peace process. The voice should which might have been be raised everywhere for bringing Pakistan misconceived as third and India closer. People in both the countries party interference in this are realising the advantages of peace and conference. working together.

The whole atmosphere here was really emotional and yesterday, it was an emotional beginning. I am going with the impression S. Nihal Singh that the wind of change Senior Editorthat has started blowing in the region will gather The emotional factor between India and more winds from this Pakistan militates against any rationale conference. solution to the problems they face. Punjabis

on both sides carry so much historical SAFMA will continue its baggage with them that often they cannot efforts to bring you in this think straight and rationally about Indo-Pak type of dialogues and problems. The fear on Pakistan side is that productive engagements India wants to shelve the Kashmir issue, so that from the winds; we therefore, all the other issues to greater or can mount the pressure lesser extent should be made hostage to on the central players to Kashmir. One way of going about it would be establish peace in South to pick up the threads of old discussion. Let's Asia. begin talking about Kashmir in the context of

past agreements that have been made. It is due to political acrimony between India and Pakistan that the South There are a number of committees that we are supposed to form to discuss Asian regional forum SAARC could not make any substantive progress. various issues. On the nuclear question, the feeling in India is that it serves Today in a new global setting, it is easy to work more unitedly together for Pakistanis purposes to talk about nuclear flashpoint. In other words, it is to peace, stability and progress in this region. If India and Pakistan normalise exaggerate the threat from the nuclear equation. There is a balance of terror their relations, the maximum beneficiaries will be the smaller countries in between the two countries, which was the basis of whole post-cold war this region including Bangladesh. We will continue to pressurise the central period. What is needed in realistic terms is not civilian control but players to come to an understanding and to realise the reality that we should transparency about the control on nuclear weapons. There are power move together and SAARC should be stronger. There should be peace in structures in both the countries and there are elements in these power South Asia and I agree that peace in the region is required for progress.structures that are inimical to better relations between India and Pakistan

for certain vested interests.

55

The Punjab hospitalityOpening hearts: Chief Minister of Punjab Ch. Pervaiz Elahiand the elder Chaudhary, President PML-Q Shujaat Hussain,with the Indian MPs at the sumptuous dinner they hosted in Lahore

56

Speaks Ch.Parvez Elahi, Chief Minister of the Punjab

I am delighted to welcome you to the great city of Lahore. Lahore has been historically the cross-cultural hub of subcontinent for centuries.Lahore is the resting place of our national poet Allama Iqbal, who is widely respected in India, while we cherish Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh faith, who was born in the vicinity of Lahore. The poetry of Bulleh Shah & Waris Shah has left a major impact on subcontinent. Many of us look forward to the opportunity to visit the shrines of great saints like Khawaja Moeen-ud-Din Chisti of Ajmer and Nazim-ud-Din Aulia of Delhi.I understand that cricket is a passion in India and Pakistan. The great Indian cricketer Lala Amaranth, who hit the first test century for India in 1933 was a son of Lahore. Today, there is a great hunger for restoration of sporting ties.I would like to see cricket and hockey tours between the two nations and I assure that your teams will be fully welcomed.The resumption of bus service has come at a good time. Its human impact has been immediate. It has reunited divided families and it has allowed the world to see that, despite political tensions, the soul of common human values and decency remains fully alive. The recent proof of that is the second life given to the Pakistani girl Noor Fatima, who was operated by Indian doctors in Bangalore. While lauding the developments towards normalcy and diplomacy, one cannot overlook difficulties.Kashmir is one dispute in the world where both parties are nuclear-armed. This scenario does not apply, for example, even on such an explosive issue like the Arab-Israeli conflict over Palestine. We reject violence, but its root-causes must be addressed, not just its symptoms.For the people of South Asia, peace is not a choice but a must. For peace to last, it has to be genuine and just. If we want peace, we have to work for justice. Neither force nor aggression is the solution. Let’s not forget that some of our challenges are common. Both India and Pakistan have similar socio-economic problems. These are for example, poverty, low literacy rates, ill-health, and low quality of life in remote areas. Before us is the task of striving for the dignity and well-being of the common citizens. I trust that visit like yours shall create a positive climate enabling both the countries to share and learn from each others experiences. Our region is the most densely populated area in the world. Instability in our region will mean instability for the entire globe. Today, with your visit, I see hope for a better tomorrow. What if the Congress comes?

Receiving the guestsReceiving the guests

A better tomorrow tomorrow

57

58

At the foot steps of Human Rights fortAt the foot steps of Human Rights fortThe Indian guests at the farewell lunch hosted by former chairperson of HRCP Asma JehangirThe Indian guests at the farewell lunch hosted by former chairperson of HRCP Asma Jehangir

hostage to one or the other issue or ignoring the major concerns of the parties involved. There is a greater need to remove all barriers in the way of expanding people-to-people contacts and allowing the divided families to meet more frequently and pilgrims to visit their holy shrines. Let me emphasise again that without the involvement of the people at a larger scale

Asma Jehangir in the peace process and expansion of peace constituency, it will be hard for both the establishments to rise above their uncompromising positions.

n behalf of the human rights and peace activists and on my own behalf, OI welcome your peace mission to Pakistan. For a long time, the relations between India and Pakistan have remained a hostage to animosity and self-serving jingoism while people of the two countries have been craving for peace and cordial relations. What is quite unfortunate is that in a continuing state of conflict and deionisation, the minorities and dispossessed people have become a victim of religious extremism of the majority community in both the countries. Recourse to violence and terrorism, perpetrated by both state and non-state parties, has further exacerbated the situation, adversely affecting human rights across the borders. Consequently, the poor Kashmiris have been caught in between the cross-fire of security agencies and the terrorists. The civil societies of the two countries have been striving for good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan. Rising above the bellicosity of two establishments, the peace movement from across frontiers has been demanding an end to hostility and violence and the resumption of a sustainable and productive process of dialogue without making it either a

People to bring peaceto bring peace

59

Regardless of Asma’s briefRegardless of Asma’s brief

When will you become the chairman of Kashmir Committee here?When will you become the chairman of Kashmir Committee here?Exchanging notes: Dr. Mubashir Hasan with Ram JethmalaniExchanging notes: Dr. Mubashir Hasan with Ram Jethmalani

Asma Jehangir with Ram Jethmalani: Bring the Kashmiris togetherAsma Jehangir with Ram Jethmalani: Bring the Kashmiris together

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Chief Minister of North Western Frontier Province Akram Durrani receives Margaret Alva and Mr. Punj

Chief Minister of North Western Frontier Province Akram Durrani hosted a luncheon-receptionin honour of the Indian parliamentariansand other guests at the Frontier Housein Islamabad. The reception was attendedby large number of Ulemas and leaders ofMuttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA). They included Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, JUI chief, Maulana Shah Ahmed Norani, President JUP,Farid Piracha, Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Samiul Haq, President JUI-S, and other top leaders of MMA.

At Maulanas'

receptionAt Maulanas'

reception

You are not like TalibanYou are not like Taliban

Receiving Ram Vilas Pawan and his better halfReceiving Ram Vilas Pawan and his better half

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A tribute to Shri Malkani getting the support of the BJP and RSS for SAFMA's “Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Experts and Journalists Conference” he came all along

By Imtiaz Alam from Pondiycherry to participate in our meeting in New Delhi. The issue was how to reach the Prime Minister Office (PMO). He called National Security

y dear friend K. R. Malkani's Advisor Brajesh Mishra who agreed immediately to a meeting within an Msudden death has caused me hour. In a matter of two hours, he got the clearance for BJP's participation an immense personal loss and has from the PMO. He himself wanted to come, but was stopped since he held the deprived SAFMA of an associate, post of Lt. Governor in Pondicherry. Most encouraging was the confirmation always ready to help. His Happy he got from Shri Sudarshan for the participation of the RSS delegation. Divali card, I received after his As a person and a friend, he was entirely different from what his public image death, conveyed a unique message was. He was a very open hearted person and was in fact very passionate about that he will always remain a candle bringing amity between India and Pakistan. Malkani ji was not a religious of hope for us. conformist, as I found out, although he was believed to be a prejudiced Hindu I met him, for the first time, when I communalist. On the basis of my prolonged conversations, I found a very went to New Delhi in 1998 to invite flexible person in him who was ready to go much beyond the stated position Indian MPs to First Indo-Pak of his party on the issues of conflict with Pakistan, including Kashmir. A Parliamentary Conference. We Sindhi by birth and a migrant to India, he had a great urge for overcoming became friend after just two or distances between the two countries. Interestingly, he was realistic enough to thre e me e t ing s . He w as a adapt his party's thesis of 'Bharat Mata key ekta' to the model of European straightforward, honest and Union and was willing to remove the ' smaller irritant of Kashmir' in the way committed person who could go to of creating a South Asian fraternity or Union. Why was he so keen? He wrote any extent to fulfill a promise. The in one of his last letters to me: "We must keep Anglo-Amricas out of Indo-Indian MPs were told by Prime Pakistan pourparlers (parleys)".

Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that they postponed their visit to Islamabad I often feel, despite being a secularist and humanist, that, perhaps, it is easier since the host had come into conflict with the Nawaz Sharif government and to talk to some of the RSS ideologues on Indo-Pak issues than certain pseudo official quarters did not favour their visit. secularists who are more loyal to the state policy. Shri Malkai is no more in After talking to me, Shri Malkani promised to keep his commitment. The this world, but his moral support and strength will remain with us to push the Prime Minister Vajpayee had left for a conference and Home Minister L. K. peace agenda of SAFMA forward. But who will fill the void created by his Advani kept the same instance. This was only Malkani who took it upon death from among the RSS cadres ? himself and brought 26 MPs to Islamabad, despite hesitation at the official level. Without his steadfastness, that conference could not have taken place. When I again went to New Delhi to plan the follow-up conference there, there was no one who could offer to become a partner. This was again Malkani who brought Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on board and also made the authorities agree to the idea. Most interesting was his transformation from a 'hawk' into a 'dove' in the RSS camp. He showed me some of the press clippings depicting his transformation to confirm how happy he was with his new image of a peace maker.Again, when we floated the idea of organising the First South Asian Free Media Conference, this was Malkani who became one of the most enthusiastic supporters of SAFMA. Accompanying 72 Indian journalists, in his capacity as the Editor of RSS organ, he became one of the leading founding members of SAFMA. Last time when we were finding difficulties in

Islamabad: July 1st, 2000Shri Malkani at the

First South Asian Free Media Conference of SAFMA

Islamabad: July 1st, 2000Shri Malkani at the

First South Asian Free Media Conference of SAFMA

Islamabad: Feb. 12, 1999,First Indo-Pak Parliamentary Conference: towards Detente in the Subcontinent :

Mr. Malkani sharing pleasantries with (on his right) Late Law Minister Yaseen Watto,former National Assembly Speaker Ilahi Bakhsh Soomro, present Foreign Minister

Khurshied Kasuri and (on his left) Shri Balram Jhakar, MP Congress, former Senator Akram Zaki, and Mr. Vedak

Islamabad: Feb. 12, 1999,First Indo-Pak Parliamentary Conference: towards Detente in the Subcontinent :

Mr. Malkani sharing pleasantries with (on his right) Late Law Minister Yaseen Watto,former National Assembly Speaker Ilahi Bakhsh Soomro, present Foreign Minister

Khurshied Kasuri and (on his left) Shri Balram Jhakar, MP Congress, former Senator Akram Zaki, and Mr. Vedak

Without prejudice to our position on KashmirWithout prejudice to our position on Kashmir Point of no orderPoint of no order

Wish you luck of LoksabhaWish you luck of Loksabha

How should not a parliament function?How should not a parliament function?

Glimpses

62

At Wahgah

With expectations we welcome you to bring peaceWith expectations we welcome you to bring peaceFriendly tresspassing at WahgahFriendly tresspassing at Wahgah

Laloo Parasad Yadav with Balbir Punj, Ramji Lal Suman and other MPs Responding to welcoming slogans by the Lahorites at Wahgah

Laloo Parasad Yadav with Balbir Punj, Ramji Lal Suman and other MPs Responding to welcoming slogans by the Lahorites at Wahgah

63

The Punjabi connection regardless of gender segregationThe Punjabi connection regardless of gender segregation

Roses without thornsRoses without thorns

Civic

reception

at

Lahore

Dileep Padgaonkar: Trying to gauge sentimentsDileep Padgaonkar: Trying to gauge sentiments

Can you create a peace wave?Can you create a peace wave?

Playing horror of conflict Playing horror of conflict

Watching the play for peaceWatching the play for peace

Pulling down the hate-wallPulling down the hate-wall

With Tahira Mazhar Ali Khan, a friend of NehrusWith Tahira Mazhar Ali Khan, a friend of Nehrus

64

SA

FM

A's re

ceptio

n a

t Islam

abad

Focus of the PressFocus of the Press

Refreshing acquaintancesRefreshing acquaintances Exchanging notesExchanging notes

LoC or Chenab line?LoC or Chenab line?

Being received at the Islamabad Airport by Mustansar Javed, Gen. Secretary SAFMA Pakistan

Being received at the Islamabad Airport by Mustansar Javed, Gen. Secretary SAFMA Pakistan Dancing to the tunes of Shahbaz Qalandar Dancing to the tunes of Shahbaz Qalandar Friendly Handshake: Ch. Shujaat & Punj Friendly Handshake: Ch. Shujaat & Punj

Ch. Shujaat listens to Laloo's bhashanCh. Shujaat listens to Laloo's bhashan

Mani Shankar Aiyar: Make two Punjabs friendlyMani Shankar Aiyar: Make two Punjabs friendly

65

SA

FM

A's re

ceptio

n a

t Islam

abad

Focus of the PressFocus of the Press

Refreshing acquaintancesRefreshing acquaintances Exchanging notesExchanging notes

LoC or Chenab line?LoC or Chenab line?Ch. Shujaat listens to Laloo's bhashanCh. Shujaat listens to Laloo's bhashan

Mani Shankar Aiyar: Make two Punjabs friendlyMani Shankar Aiyar: Make two Punjabs friendly

65

Being received at the Islamabad Airport by Mustansar Javed, Gen. Secretary SAFMA Pakistan

Being received at the Islamabad Airport by Mustansar Javed, Gen. Secretary SAFMA Pakistan Dancing to the tunes of Shahbaz Qalandar Dancing to the tunes of Shahbaz Qalandar Friendly Handshake: Ch. Shujaat & Punj Friendly Handshake: Ch. Shujaat & Punj

At Indian High Commissioner's receptionAt Indian High Commissioner's reception

Meat tastes good in PakistanMeat tastes good in PakistanMore relaxing than Lok SabhaMore relaxing than Lok Sabha

Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA, with Sherry Rehman, MNA PPP-PSyed Naveed Qamar, MNA, with Sherry Rehman, MNA PPP-P

66

Meat tastes good in PakistanMeat tastes good in PakistanMore relaxing than Lok SabhaMore relaxing than Lok Sabha

At Indian High Commissioner's receptionAt Indian High Commissioner's reception Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA, with Sherry Rehman, MNA PPP-PSyed Naveed Qamar, MNA, with Sherry Rehman, MNA PPP-P

66

People will prevail

SAFMA solidaritySAFMA solidarity

Thanking SAFMAThanking SAFMA

Not to be dividedNot to be dividedWill meet againWill meet again

Comrade come againComrade come again67