“We are here to convey a message of love and peace for Pakistan. We are here to tell the world that we (Indians and Pakistanis) were the same. The very place on which we are standing right now is the place where we parted years ago. We are not different,” said former Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, who heads the delegation.
The delegation was accorded a warm welcome. The delegates were driven to the city from Wagah amid rose-petal showers, peace songs and slogans by over 1,000 people queued up to receive them.
“Everybody has come on his own, some using their own conveyance and others via train,” said Ram Jethmalani, an independent MP and chairman of the Kashmir committee of India. He said it was difficult for him to decide which side of the border he belongs to. “My ancestors were from Sindh,” he added.
Although he believed the two countries should resolve their differences on their own, Mr Jethmalani would not oppose mediation on Kashmir, saying “it could also be acceptable to India.”
In reply to a question, he said there was no harm to invite a facilitator to negotiate on Kashmir and other issues. He said it did not matter if it were the United States, Russia or China to play mediator, what did matter was that the problems should be resolved.
The independent MP, however, did not agree when asked whether this was a formal message from New Delhi to be conveyed to Islamabad.
“No, we don’t have any official message,” Mr Yadav, too, said and added the delegates had arrived here to tell Pakistanis that they didn’t bear any ill-will against Pakistan.
Emphasizing that the visit was part of large-scale efforts to end bitterness between the two countries and further the peace process, Mr Yadav said no country could make progress without having good relations with neighbouring countries.
He said friends could be changed but it was impossible for countries to change neighbours. He warned of a great disaster if the two countries did not resolve their differences. He said the fate of the two countries could change beyond imagination if they became friends.
Mr Yadav, who remained focus of hosts and newsmen, said during their stay in Pakistan they would work for creating an atmosphere conducive to talks on all outstanding issues.
“The delegation consists of 33 lawmakers and 26 journalists and experts on peace and Pakistan-India relations,” said Imtiaz Alam of South Asia Free Media Association on whose invitation the delegates are visiting Pakistan. He said the delegation, scheduled to stay in Pakistan till Aug 13, would attend a conference in Islamabad on Pakistan-India relations and peace on Sunday.
Any of the delegates, however, had no idea whether there was any chance of an early resumption of bilateral talks. “Let’s see,” responded both Mr Yadav and Mr Jethmalani in reply to a question when they saw the resumption of talks.
Mr Jethmalani, however, commented this should be a give-and-take process. “Hundred per cent results cannot be expected even in wars. So, we have to be prepared for some negotiating terms and conditions before coming to talks,” the Kashmir committee chairman said.
Zora Singh Mani, an MP from Ferozpur, suggested the border crossing between the two countries (Hussainiwala in India) should be opened and made operational. He didn’t see any differences between the two countries and believed that people from sides were “members of one family.” He believed the two countries should resolve their differences bilaterally.
Baldir Punj, an MP from the ruling BJP, said any third country such as America could exploit the differences between Pakistan and India to its own advantage.
About 100 activists from Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, whose chief visited India last month, were among who welcomed the delegates.
The delegates were taken to a hotel where a reception was held in their honour. They were scheduled to leave for Islamabad sometime in the night.
AFP adds: The delegation includes two MPs from opposition Congress party, Margaret Alva and Mani Shankar Aiyar, and editor of the right-wing Hindu newspaper.
MP Alva said both Indians and Pakistanis “yearned for peace” and that the current trip hoped to “accelerate the process of normalization of ties”.
Mr Aiyar said the group would see “what we can contribute towards bridging the gap”.
“It is the politicians of both countries who are at loggerheads while the people on both sides are longing for lasting peace,” Mr Aiyar said.