ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: Pakistan and India must protect their peoples by cutting down defence expenditures and diverting resources to strengthening economies, social development and public welfare.
This was the consensus that emerged at a public meeting addressed by interfaith delegation of Indian parliamentarians and peace activists of India and Pakistan here on Sunday.
The panel of speakers included member of parliament and deputy leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Mohammad Saleem, Congress Party parliamentarian Karvinthan and Gen (retired) Moti Dhar.
The Pakistani side was represented by Senator Akram Zaki and Chaudhry Manzoor, MNA. Addressing civil society representatives and people from different segments of society, the meeting emphasised peace between the two countries for the strengthening of infrastructures and welfare of peoples.
The meeting observed that both the countries as neighbours faced similar problems and should make best endeavours to eradicate illiteracy, hunger, diseases and other menaces.
The delegation encouraged people-to-people interaction and exchange of delegations to clear misunderstandings and for bettering the prospects of peace in the region.
"The two countries must end fighting like monkeys. The tax- payers' money is being spent on weapons for their destruction. Resources must be utilized for social development, quality education and better health services besides combating other complications that prevail in both the states," said Gen Dhar.
"People on both sides are suffering. Kashmir remains one of the world's longest running feuds and the problem can only be solved through talks. There are also issues of diseases and hunger that must be addressed first by Pakistan as well as India," he said.
Being nuclear state is a very serious threat. According to research, only a medium-sized bomb dropped on Mumbai will kill 350,000 people immediately. Another 350,000 will die after awhile and another 200,000 even more gradually, he said.
He said the perception inherited from the British that domination was determined by military might was wrong. The West gave up this thinking after World War-II. But generals in India and Pakistan still insist on this destructive approach, he said.
Stressing on regional co-operation, Mohammad Saleem said South Asians had met on several occasions and talks had not gone from theory to practice. He said there were no practical steps and no progress and the two sides were only inching towards peace. Vested interests on both the sides are creating hindrances and some people even do not want to see the two nations to come closer, he said.
Media is equally responsible for creating differences between the two by making a mountain out of a mole hill and highlighting negative news to create unnecessary sensation rather than focussing more on positive aspects, he said. Ban on Indian and Pakistani channels is futile. People on both sides want to watch these channels and want cultural interaction, he added.
Chaudhry Manzoor stressed on relaxing visa restrictions by both Pakistan and India. The ruling classes take one step forward and two steps backward when it comes to ending mutual confrontation, he said.
Differences between Pakistan and India are the people's problem. People of both the nations need to wear team jackets and must come forward to end the hatred, he maintained.
