04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

LAHORE, Sept 3: At least 69 peace activists arrived here from India via Wagah border crossing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pak-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy.

The delegates, who were scheduled to cross the border together, were allowed entry in groups of two to three people as Pakistani security forces got the list of their names late.

Chanting slogans like peace is a must for this region and war has never been a solution to differences, the delegates and those who received them asked both Pakistan and Indian governments to make the ongoing peace process fruitful. Around 200 people from the Pakistan chapter of the forum and various NGOs greeted the delegates and showered them with rose petals and sung songs.

Admiral Ram Das (retired) and filmmaker-cum-peace activist Tappan K. Bose were among those prominent among the delegates. "We do not feel that we are in a different country," Mr Das and his wife Lalita Ram Das told reporters.

"I see very positive changes with regard to the ongoing peace dialogue between Pakistan and India," Mr Das said and added that the talks had been on the right track, and people would see results soon.

Of the forum's role in the peace process, Mr Das said that there were a few people when the forum began people-to-people contact. But, he said, now thousands of people have joined the forum to accelerate the peace efforts. "I hope the dream for peace in this region will come true."

Mr Bose said that this event (the forum's convention in Pakistan) had provided another chance to bring people of the two countries closer. "Heads of various chapters of the forum from both the sides will be sharing various ideas to promote peace in this region."

Dr Mubashar Hasan of the Pakistan chapter of the forum said that the joint celebrations would strengthen peace cause and help explore seek more ways to promote harmony. This is for the first time that people from a variety of regions from both sides of the divide are meeting to discuss views on peace process, he added.

The delegates will attend the anniversary of the forum to be inaugurated on Saturday (today) and will end on Sunday with joint celebrations by participants from both the countries.

The secretary-general and provincial levels reports of the forum would be part of the discussion besides cultural activities, music, drama by artistes, theatre groups and peace activists from both the sides.