KARACHI: RTC seeks involvement of peoples in peace process: Pakistan-India ties
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, May 19: While calling for an enhanced and multifaceted people-to-people contact between Pakistan and India, participants of a round-table conference on Monday were advised to approach the current peace initiative with “cautious optimism” and deal with the whole gambit of relationship in a step-by-step manner.
The RTC on the People’s Agenda for Peace, convened by the Pakistan-India Forum for Peace and Democracy and Legislative Watch Group AF was presided over by Justice Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim.
The RTC was unanimous on the need for making South Asia free of nuclear weapons and conflicts. The general perception was that Pakistan and India should tackle all issues, including that of Kashmir, trade, cultural contacts, travel, etc.
A declaration adopted at the end of the RTC while welcoming the Indian prime minister’s initiative for normalization of relations and Pakistan’s positive response to it, emphasised the need for involving the people on either side of the divide in the process.
At the same time, it noted with concern that jingoistic political culture on both sides of the divide was an impediment to peace.
The participants particularly stressed the importance of facilitating unrestricted travel, trade and cultural exchange across the border and called for the immediate removal of impediments and restrictions on movement by road, rail and air.
They emphasized that both countries must create and encourage opportunities for contacts at people-to-people level. This alone would help in removing the prevailing mistrust and misconceptions and create proper understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
The governments of both Pakistan and India must realize the hazards inherent in a policy of confrontation and, in particular, the dangers resulting from the induction of nuclear weapons and missile technology, the declaration stressed.
The two countries must repudiate violence and use of force to resolve their bilateral disputes. The declaration also called upon the two countries to make Saarc broad-based and duly empowered to create an atmosphere of stability and harmony in the region and work effectively for settling disputes between the member nations.
Justice Ibrahim emphasized that there was no alternative to peace between Pakistan and India and that vested interest in both the countries should not be allowed to succeed. The present opportunity should not be allowed to slip away, he added.
He stressed the need for convincing our own people on the benefits of peace. He said that these negotiations should be open and the people should know what was being negotiated.
He pointed out that the new world order had made it imperative for both the countries to come closer. If there is free movement of the people, it would change the whole perspective, he said.
Mrs Anis Haroon, while identifying various issues, called for pragmatic approach and emphasized that Kashmir could not be treated as a territorial issue alone. “One cannot deny that there is a struggle of the people of Kashmir who are also facing hardships,” she remarked.
She was of the view that long-term problems needed a negotiated solution and that war would only destroy civilization in South Asia.
Nasim Gandhi, a businessman, called for according MFN status to India and open trade with her because these were in the interest of Pakistan also. He was of the view that Pakistani products could compete with the Indian products. Moreover, he said, Pakistani products would get access to a much bigger market.
Sheen Farrukh called for step-by-step approach and advised the people not to be carried away by euphoria of peace as Jihadi elements had increased here while fanatics had gained upper hand in India.
Deputy Secretary General of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Raza Rabbani called for approaching the peace talks cautiously and emphasized the need for resolving all issues through peaceful means as tensions between the two countries had retarded their peoples’ growth and development.
He said that peace should be amongst equals and guaranteeing territorial integrity of both the countries. He said that the main issue of Kashmir could not be put on the back burner but there could be a change in tactics of approaching this problem.
He said that Simla Accord provided the basis for Pakistan-Indiarelations and also emphasized the need for activating the protocols and agreements reached during PPP government of Benazir Bhutto in the Saarc conference. He said that Lahore Declaration was also a meaningful initiative.
Mr Rabbani called for taking leaders of all the mainstream political parties, even those living abroad, into confidence on the current peace initiative.
Ms Ghinva Bhutto, Chief of PPP-SB said it was much better for the two neighbours to reach a compromise on their own rather than accepting a prescription from the US or any other extra-regional players.
Referring to the current policy of the government she said: ”We can never become Israel of the region despite our best efforts.”
Kunwar Khalid Yunus of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had reservations over the manner in which name of the New High Commissioner to India was made public. He said it would keep the bureaucratic control over government’s policies and called for complete overhaul and regime change in the foreign office.
The participants represented various political parties, a cross-section of writers, editors, lawyers, scientists, teachers, students, workers and other peace activists.
