KARACHI, March 20: People should build up pressure on the rulers to achieve permanent peace in the region as the ruling elites of India and Pakistan are creating hurdles in the way of expeditious peace process between the two nuclear powers.

This was stated at a programme, ‘An overview of peace process between India and Pakistan – people’s perspective’, organised by the Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy at Arts Council of Pakistan.

Tapan Kumar Bose, secretary general of the Indian side of the PIPFPD, said the ruling classes on both the sides of the divide were creating obstacles in the process for their own vested interests. However, he said, it was a great achievement that a peace process had formally started at least. “We welcome the reopening of Khokhrapar-Munabao border, which a few years ago was seemed to be an impossible task,” he said.

He said Indian authorities were spending huge sums on Siachin which could be used for the welfare of people if peace prevailed.

He said the civil society of India and Pakistan should hold dialogue with the people of Kashmir and strive for some solution, which was honorable and acceptable to the people of disputed valley.

Anis Haroon, secretary general of the PIPFPD Pakistani side, said substantive progress had been made on the dialogue front but there was no progress as far as settlement of the issues were concerned. She opposed the concept of nuclear deterrent and said this coupled with military buildup would only increase tensions in the region. She said peace process was irreversible as it was very much related to the people of region.

Former ambassador Mansoor Alam said nuclear weapons were a reality, which could not be denied and with their ability of full-scale devastation of life and property they were also playing the role of deterrent. He said besides rulers, people should also be educated to shun emotions and accept peace as the ultimate destiny.

Dr Huma Baqai said military buildup and water insecurity were mainly confronting the two countries. The two countries had test-fired at least 20 missiles since the beginning of peace process, she said and agreed that the ruling elite had no consensus on peace in the region.