KARACHI, Dec 28: Speakers at a conference on Tuesday stressed for more interaction between the peoples of India and Pakistan so that friendship between the two south Asian neighbours could be established and strengthened.

Speaking at the concluding session of the 'Shah, Sachal, Saami International Peace Conference', they said that with friendship based on trust, both countries would be able to curtail their non-developmental expenditures and spend more on health and education sectors.

A 32-member Indian Sindhi literary delegation, led by Vice-Chairman of the Sindhi Academy Delhi, Suresh A Keswani, is participating in the conference. The team had also undertaken a week-long tour of the interior of Sindh.

They said that peoples of both countries wanted to live in peace and harmony so their future generations could live a comparatively better life. Mr Keswani, looking overwhelmed by the emotions of love expressed for the delegation, said he did not feel that they were in a foreign country, but said it was like revisiting home.

He hoped that with the current process progressing steadily, a friendship, based on mutual trust, would soon be established and with time it would be further strengthened. Nooruddin Sirki, who presided over the function, said various groups had been striving for over a decade to establish friendly ties between the two countries.

He added that they had succeeded and the breeze of friendship was now getting stronger with each passing day. Other speakers stressed that all disputes between both countries be resolved through peaceful negotiations and dialogue, and never resort to the use of force.

They; however, pointed out that the road to peace and friendship was still a bumpy one, and peace activists on both sides of the border now had to maintain their pressure on their respective governments, so they do not call off the peace process half way on any flimsy grounds.

They also proposed that a India-Pakistan Peace Forum be established which should make efforts to help establish friendly relations by holding conferences, organizing cultural exchange visits by scholars, intellectuals, youth, etc.

They also stressed that more cultural exchange tours be organized so that people had more opportunities to understand and come closer to each other. A book, "Jadeed Sindhi Adab" written by Mazhar Jamil was also launched.