Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists & Experts Conference by South Asian Media Net

Acknowledgements

irst of all acknowledgements of those mighty and not so mighty but very dear friends across the subcontinent, who have made the First Session of this Pakistan-India Parliamentarians and public opinion leaders' assembly possible. This Indo-Pak assembly could not have taken place, had SAFMA Pakistan and India not been given the support by the major parliamentary parties, especially the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Pakistan Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PartyParliamentarians (PPP-P), Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party, Millat Party, Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pakthtun Khwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Movement (BNM) and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP). Similarly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party, Samata Party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), AIADMK, Communist Party of India (CPI), National Congress Party, Rashtriya Swayemsewak Sangh (RSS), Shiromani Akali Dal, and others extended full cooperation. Most importantly, I personally thank Foreign Minister Mian Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri, President of PML-Q Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, PPP Chair-person Ms Benazir Bhutto, MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazal-

ur-Rehman, PML-N President Javaid Hashmi and MQM leader Begum Nasreen Jalil, from Pakistan; National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, BJP President Shri Naidu, Congress President Madam Sonia Gandhi, CPI-M General Secretary Harkishan Surjeet, RJD Chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, Smajwadi Party President Mulayam Sing Yadav, National Congress President Sharad Pawar and Mr Paswan from India. Above all this was an all out team effort by our two SAFMA Chapters in Pakistan and India, especially by Mr K. K. Katyal, President SAFMA India, Vinod Sharma, Vice President SAFMA India, Sushant Sareen, General Secretary SAFMA India, Dileep Podgaonkar, Vice President SAFMA India, my friend Shri K. R. Malkani, in particular, and from SAFMA Pakistan its President M. Ziauddin, General Secretary Mustansar Javed, Aroosa Alam, Sirmed Manzoor and others. It is pertinent to mention here that it was Mir Shakil-urRehman who in fact helped in founding SAFMA and its first conference in Islamabad in July 2000, besides holding the first Indo-Pak Parliamentary conference under the banner of The News in Islamabad in 1999. Most importantly, it is due to the sponsorship of NORAD and technical assistance from the UNDP that SAFMA has been able to take so many initiatives in this year. I will be ungrateful if I especially do not thank Mr Onder Yucer, the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Pakistan, for his most valuable support to SAFMA. Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General SAFMA

Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists & Experts Conference Understanding, Confidence-building, Conflict-resolution August 10-11, Islamabad, Pakistan Abbreviations

Sense of the House

No confrontation

Meeting of hearts

Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee

Unusually exciting

For dialogue President of Congress Sonia Gandhi

Peace and only peace Prime Minister of Pakistan Zafarullah Khan Jamali

Overview of the conference Sadaf Arshad Editor Publications

An alternative view Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General SAFMA

Building parliamentarians' solidarity

A road map for peace Benazir Bhutto Chairperson Pakistan People's Party

K. K. Katyal President SAFMA India

Indo-Pak imbroglio

Offering an olive branch President General Pervez Musharraf

M. Ziauddin President SAFMA Pakistan

Chaudhary Ameer Hussain, Speaker of National Assembly Pakistan

Speeches in Opening Ceremony

8 10

Ch. Shujaat Hussain, President ruling PML-Q Anadi Charan Sahu, MP, BJP Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, General Secretary MMA Margaret Alva, MP, Indian National Congress Farooq Ahmed Leghari, President Millat Party Ram Vilas Paswan, President Lok Janshakti Laloo Prasad Yadav, President RJD Javaid Hashmi, Acting President PML-N Moinul Hassan, MP, CPI-M

Syed Safwan Ullah, MNA, MQM Senator Illiyas Bilour, ANP Ramji Lal Suman, MP, SP K. E. Krishnamaurthy, MP, TDP Swaraj Kaushal, MP, HVP Senator Sanaullah Baloch, BNP

Balbir Punj, MP, BJP Sarla Maheshwari, MP, CPI-M Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, Senior Editor S. Nihal Singh, Senior Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, President SAFMA

A better tomorrow Session-I, Understanding Positions Speeches by the Indian and Pakistani delegates

Session-II: Confidence-building Measures

About confidence building

S. Nihal Singh

Session-III: Conflict Resolution

Speeches by the Indian and Pakistani delegates

SAFMA builds bridges

Sherry Rehman, MNA, PPP -P Mani Shankar Aiyar, MP, INC Ishaq Khan Khakawani, MNA, PML-Q

Asma Jehangir

Maulanas welcome peace

A tribute to Shri Malkani ji

60 61

Imtiaz Alam

Glimpses

Foreign Minister Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri

Speeches in the Concluding Session by

People to bring peace

Chief Minister Akram Durrani's Reception

Speeches by the Indian and Pakistani delegates

Chief Minister of the Punjab Ch. Parvez Elahi

Edited by: Ms. Sadaf Arshad, Editor Publications Designed by: DESIGN 8 Printed by: Impact Published by: South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Central Secretariat SAFMA 09-Lower Ground, Eden Heights, Jail Road, Lahore. Pakistan. Tel: 092-42-5879251-54; Fax: 092-42-5879254; E-mail: safma@hotmail.com; www.southasianmedia.net

Abbreviations India

Pakistan

PML (Q)

Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam)

BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party

PPP-P

Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians

INC

Indian National Congress

MMA

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal

RJD

Rashtriya Janta Dal

Millat Party

CPI-M

Communist Party of India-Marxist

PML -N

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)

Samajwadi Party

MQM

Muttahida Qaumi Movement

TDP

Telugu Desam Party

ANP

Awami National Party

HVP

Haryana Vikas Party

BNP

Balochistan National Party

CPI

Communist Party of India

PML-J

Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo)

DMK

Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam

BNM

Balochistan National Movement

BSP

Bahujan Samaj Party

PKMAP

Pukhtoon Khwa Milli Awami Party

RSS

Rashtriya Swayemsewak Sangh

PPPP-P

Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (Patriot)

AIADMK

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

PML (Z)

Pakistan Muslim League (Zia)

National Conference

Not confrontation

ge a s s e M Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee

am happy at the opportunity to send this message to a distinguished and representative group of Members of Parliament, journalists, analysts and writers from India and Pakistan, who have gathered under the banner of the South Asian Free Media Association. The meeting and the themes for discussion are a forceful reiteration of the popular desire in both our countries for a normal, peaceful, friendly and cooperative relationship. Our two peoples, at different levels, and in their own ways, have contributed further meaning and content to my initiative from Srinagar on April 18, to once again extend India's hand of friendship to Pakistan. We must use this common yearning for greater interaction to lessen the misperceptions and mistrust between us. Cooperation, rather than confrontation, is the answer to our common problems of development and poverty alleviation. Violence and bloodshed cannot provide any enduring solutions. We can live together only if we let each other live. Globalisation has today brought together nations of diverse historical, geographical and ethnic backgrounds. From the most developed to the poorest regions of the world, regional associations and economic groupings are being formed to tackle developmental challenges and environmental problems. Sub-regional alliances have become the building blocks of a multi-polar world. India and Pakistan should heed these winds of change in today's world. We should not defy logic and distort reality to avoid mutually beneficial cooperation. We cannot deny our people their right to peaceful and cooperative economic development. If your meetings and deliberations can encourage a movement towards such a cooperative future for our two countries, they would serve a noble cause.

am glad to learn that the South Asian Free Media Association is holding its conference in Islamabad. The Congress party has been committed to having cordial and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan. We have been in favour of a dialogue between the two countries for resolving all contentious issues. The Simla Agreement signed by Smt Indira Gandhi and the late Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the 2nd July 1972, provides the framework within which the two countries can discuss and build a durable friendly relationship.

For dialogue

Bearing this in mind, the Congress party welcomed the initiative of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to resume talks with the government of Pakistan. However, for a conducive atmosphere for having meaningful talks or negotiations, it is essential that cross border terrorism must cease. In Jammu & Kashmir, free and fair elections were held last year and the people exercised their franchise in large numbers. These elections were hailed by almost all countries in the world as a striking example of democratic functioning. The Congress party is a partner in the government of Jammu & Kashmir headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The SAFMA conference provides a good occasion for building confidence between our two countries and peoples. It will, I am confident, create the desired atmosphere for improving relations between India and Pakistan.

e g a s s Me Leader of Opposition, Sonia Gandhi President of Congress, India

Photo session of a happy Indian Delegation with President Pervez Musharraf at the Presidency 3

Offering

resident Pervez Musharraf offered an immediate ceasefire on the LoC and showed his willingness to facilitate it in the valley, if India reciprocates by releasing Kashmiri prisoners, allowing free movement of Kashmiri leaders, reducing forces and ending military operations. Elaborating on the facilitation of a ceasefire in the valley, the President said that no guarantee is possible since it is not in his control. However, the influence of various elements can be used in persuading the freedom fighters to respond if India assures to reciprocate by taking appropriate measures he went on to identify. In a one and half hour two-way discourse with the Indian MPs, experts, editors, and office-bearers of South Asian Free Media Association

(SAFMA) at the presidency, General Musharraf expressed a measure of flexibility on the possibility of finding a solution to the Kashmir dispute beyond the stated official positions. In response to a query by Balbir Punj, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP, about how to solve the Kashmir issue while stating his party's position that the BJP also considered the Kashmir issue as a stumbling block in the way of normalisation of relations, the President said that the two sides will have to retreat from their stated positions and there are certain solutions that can offer a â&#x20AC;&#x153;win-winâ&#x20AC;? alternative to the three parties to the conflict, including the Kashmiris, while repeating his four-point roadmap to solve the major irritant. The President emphasised the need for burying the past and starting a dialogue on all issues without, however, sidelining the Kashmir issue, in response to the suggestion of Vijendra Paul, the BJP MP, who had expressed his dismay over break-up of talks in the past and their revival from square one. He, however, expressed his disappointment over the fact that the negotiation process has not yet started, even at the level of foreign secretaries, whereas the process of normalisation is moving at a snail pace.

SAFMA delegation briefs the President

Indian Members of Parliament making it a memorable occasion

olive branch

Excerpts from President General Pervez Musharraf's address

Expressing his suspicion, he said, perhaps the Indian side is not keen to expedite the process of revival of talks and come to grip with the major issue (Kashmir). Presenting himself as man of peace, the President said while fighting the two wars against India he has seen the horrors of war from very close and lost his dearest friend, besides many, after whom he had named his son. It was music to President's ears when Mani Shankar Aiyar, the Congress MP, reiterated the Indian position that India admits Kashmir is an issue and wants to discuss its resolution with Pakistan. Mr Aiyar suggested an integrated, uninterruptible, productive and composite dialogue to address all issues that the 'Sense of the House' issued by Indo-Pak Parliamentarians, Journalists and Experts conference had also emphasised.

Showing his pleasure over having an interaction for the first time with such a large group of Indian parliamentarians and journalists, the President unequivocally supported the efforts to improve people-to-people contacts, including the initiative taken by SAFMA. He, however, said they are not substitute for talks at the official level. On lifting the ban on Indian TV channels in Pakistan, General Musharraf proposed that the two sides should first stop the hate campaign. He, however, ordered the relevant officials on the spot to allow visa to Indian journalists without delay while complaining that the Pakistani journalists are not being given visas and access to the Indian leadership. The President promised to consider positively the suggestion of SAFMA delegation that five year countrywide visas, free from police reporting, for journalists with ten years of professional standing should be granted and

President offers a hand of friendship to Laloo Parsad Yadav

Not missing yet another photo opportunity

SAFMA's 'Protocol on Free Movement of Media-persons and Mediaproducts Across the South Asian region' be placed on the agenda of the 12th SAARC Summit. On the third party facilitation, the President said bilateralism cannot work between the weak and stronger and proposed that SAARC should be able to handle the conflicts among its members. The President responded to all questions very positively in a very congenial atmosphere. To Laloo Prasad Yadav's suggestion that divided families should be allowed visas and the facility to travel by rail should be resumed,General Musharraf agreed to take steps from Pakistan's side. He also assured Sardar Zora Singh Mann, the Shiromani Akali Dal MP, that the Sikh temples and their holiest shrines are being renovated and his proposal to engage Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandh Committee in the unkeep of gurdwaras can be

considered. Talking to The News a Trinamool Congress MP, Dinesh Trivedi, said that he has turned into his fan. Mani Shankar Aiyar remarked that he is very straightforward and forthcoming. Expressing his appreciation for the response of the President to the suggestions of Indian MPs, Mr Surendra Arora, who presides the BJP's foreign affairs cell, said he is very frank and does not mince words, like diplomats, in responding to any question. The President was introduced to the Indian delegates to the SAFMA conference by Vinod Kumar Sharma, Vice President of SAFMA, India. After his discourse with the Indian MPs and journalists, General Musharraf mixed with the guests and happily photographed with them.

A mix of SAFMA office-bearers and Indian MPs with the President

Sharing a memories with Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi

Peace & only peace Excerpts from Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali's address

rime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali hosted a lunch in honour of the participants of the conference on August 11 at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. Leading members of parliament and leaders of almost all major political parties attended this lunch along with the Indian parliamentarians, experts and journalists. The Prime Minister received the delegates and talked to the Indian parliamentarians in an informal and cordial manner. After the banquet, Prime Minister Jamali felicitated the guests and made brief remarks on the occasion. Excerpts as follow: Welcoming the Indian guests, and appreciating South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Mr Zafarullah Jamali asked the Indian MPs to kindly convey his message of friendship and goodwill to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. He emphasised that 'Pakistan wants peace and only peace' while reminding the guests, however, not to forget the Kashmir

Joining hands with Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Shri Laloo Parasad Yadav makes Prime Minister to coalesce in

Round-table (luncheon) conference between the Prime Minister & leading members of the two parliaments

issue. As a big brother, he asked the Indian leadership to show greater flexibility and magnanimity but hastened to add the principle of equality in developing relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of people-to-people contacts to develop amity and understanding that will, in turn, help in resolving the outstanding issues at the official level. He said problems and issues never come to an end in the world, but one should not get burdened with them or allow them to become a cause for tension and try to handle them with wisdom. Mr Jamali expressed Pakistan's willingness to discuss all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, with India. The best way to address the problems, he said, was to sit together and resolve them. He said Pakistan wants early resumption of talks with India and for this purpose it was ready to negotiate all the issues. By resolving the controversial issues that hamper progress, he observed, we would be doing a huge service to this region and close to one and a half billion people. Extending his good wishes to the people of India, he asked the visiting Indian delegates to convey his message of peace and love to them. He said that everybody would love to have good neighbourly relations with the neighbours.

A road map

peace

for

Ms Benazir Bhutto Chairperson Pakistan People’s Party

ge a s s e M

t is the pivotal moment in history of the people of South Asia at the dawn of new millennium that the impetus for peace is at our doorstep once again. I believe sustainable peace is possible with true democracy. The 1989 agreement signed between India and Pakistan under my stewardship in this very city, is a testament to the People’s Party’s commitment to conflict management in the region. After the Simla Agreement signed between Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Islamabad protocols were the first serious attempt between India and Pakistan to forge a working relationship that still endures the test of time. Every great movement in history comes with a vision. The Pakistan People's Party enunciated its vision with the Benazir Bhutto doctrine in 1988. This doctrine flows from the spirit of Simla in 1972. It envisages conflict management to enable the countries of South Asia to emulate the emerging markets of the world by working together to promote trade and commerce through common tariffs and measures that can alleviate poverty as it builds peace and understanding. As two nuclear states, we carry the responsibility to minimise tension that can lead to the dangers of war. As representatives of one-fifth of humanity, we can rescue our people from the poverty trap, steering our region towards a South Asian peace dividend. According to the Bhutto Doctrine, we need to replace the infrastructure of war with the architecture of peace. How do we do that? First, we establish trust between the two countries by bringing public opinion through representative leaders to the negotiating table. Agreements by unelected representatives are hostages to blowback, an unfortunate legacy of the last half century or more. Second, legitimate political governments, sensitive to international movement, are less likely to lead their countries into operations like Kargil which nearly brought our two countries to a nuclear impasse. Third, substantive agreements such as the return of 90,000 prisoners of war, the return of occupied territory, the end of the war crime trials, nuclear confidence building, military CBMs like the use of hotlines between DGMOs established in 1989, the exchange of nuclear site-information and the passage and the ratification of

SAPTA are all products of a democratic government led by the Pakistan People’s Party in Pakistan. In fact, troops withdrawl from Siachin as mutual troop reduction could have taken place in 1990 were democracy in Pakistan not destabilised then. Fourth, it is a welcome development that since the Cyprus talks in 1993, both India and Pakistan agreed to treat Kashmir as a separate agenda item. This shows that while the two countries have differing perceptions on the Jammu and Kashmir, they are willing to put the issue on the negotiating table to discuss without holding the gamut of Indo-Pak relations subject to the agenda. We believe that although India and Pakistan are key protagonists to the Kashmir dispute, it is imperative to include the Kashmiri people in the consultative process. The PPP welcomes the initiative taken for a ceasefire between the Indian military and militants as well as the invitation to unconditional talks to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders issued some years back. PPP believes that genuine representation in the valley is possible if political detainees in the valley are freed, human rights conditionalities are duly observed. Fifth, the reciprocity principle is an important factor for both India and Pakistan to minimise incursions by non-state actors into the disputed areas, as well as demilitarise the valley under agreed procedures. The simultaneous pursuit of such measures can generate its own momentum in Kashmir. A Line of Control that is geographically disputed could transform itself into a socially agreed area where without prejudice to the views of India and Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute, the people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control could be socially united. This could create a soft-border zone of peace and trade-driven prosperity. Sixth, confidence-building measures can be expanded to travel and travel facilitation, such as introduced by PPP government in 1988 at the SAARC meeting, for visa free travel for parliamentarians and judges. Categories could be expanded enabling greater level and association without red tapism and bureaucracy. Seventh, the extensive work done by the PPP government in 1988 with its Indian counterparts on issues of free trade can be implemented. Such implementation includes sports, cultural and media swaps institutionalised with a revival of SAARC frameworks such as SAPTA and SAFTA. India and Pakistan can take the lead in establishing the South Asian Environmental Commission as a mechanism for regional resource conservation and calamity management. The same body can double as an informal coalition of South Asian advocacy for climate change and environmental rights discourse at global and multilateral UN forums. A similar institution for women and minority rights can be considered. Eighth, in the new international environment, the SAARC countries could also consult each other on important global issues. Ninth, and finally, its time to jettison the cold-war paradigm for a new security framework investing in people instead of Weapons of Mass Destruction. I dream of a South Asia free of the threat of a nuclear holocaust, rescuing its people from the jaws of despair that poverty breeds, equipping its youth with high quality education enabling future generations to compete with the best and the brightest in the rest of the world giving pride and joy to every South Asian family. I dream of triumph of democracy, pluralism, tolerance, understanding and accommodation in our region trusting in your ability to make history.

From the broad lense

inaugural session 9

Overview of the Overview the conference conference I

t was not an easy job to bring together the elected leadership of all major political parties of the subcontinent while involving the leading media persons and experts. The timing of the conference was, however, quite conducive to the SAFMA initiative after the revival of normalisation process initiated by the two prime ministers. Two SAFMA chapters of Pakistan and India, who met in Dhaka, took the responsibility to organise this conference proposed by the SAFMA Central Secretariat. This became possible due to the support from the political leadership across all divides, besides the facilitation provided by the establishment and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The objective was to build support for the peace process across the party/country divides, develop understanding among the elected representatives of the people, explore areas of confidence-building and evaluate different options for conflict-management and conflict-resolution. The whole exercise was designed to bring the peace question on the agenda of mainstream politics and the mainstream media that was, in fact, overwhelmingly achieved, given the level of participation, massive media coverage and response from the people. Packaged with it were the behindthe-doors deliberations among a cross-section of public representatives and opinion leaders. This was first of its kind of parliamentarians' conference with a mix of leading journalists and experts. With such a broad and all-sided representation of almost all parliamentary parties, represented in both the houses of two parliaments, the conference assumed the significance of an Indo-Pak parliament. Successfully held on August 10-11, 2003, at Islamabad, it was participated by 30 members of Indian Parliament, officially representing 15 parties, and 35 leading editors/journalists and experts, 62 members of Pakistan's National Assembly and the Senate, representing almost all parties in the parliament, and 75 Pakistani journalists and experts. The total number of delegates was 202, whereas the observers in the opening and closing ceremonies crossed 250 participants.

Opening Ceremony The conference started with the national anthems of the two countries and welcome addresses by the presidents of SAFMA of Pakistan and India. Main policy paper on Indo-Pak conflict and ways to manage conflict, develop understanding, take confidence-building measures and approach towards resolving conflict was presented by the Secretary General of SAFMA, Imtiaz

By Ms.Sadaf Arshad

Alam (see page 16). 'Indo-Pak Imbroglio: An Alternative View' was well received by the delegates and set the tone of the conference. Messages from Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee (see page 1), Congress party President Madam Sonia Gandhi (see page 2) and Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party Ms Benazir Bhutto (see page 8) were read by their party leaders. The messages were an expression of goodwill and support for SAFMA's peace initiative. In open public view and facing media from all over the world, the leading representatives of the parties reiterated their parties' respective positions while, of course, keeping in line with the theme and spirit of the conference peace. What was most important about this session was that a monolithic myth about the two sides was shattered since different political parties differed with the official positions on more than one count. An overwhelming consensus was on the resolution of conflict and differences through peaceful means of a sustainable dialogue without conditions. Those who spoke in the 'Opening Ceremony' were: Ch. Shujaat Hussain, President ruling PML-Q; Makhdoom Amin Fahim, President PPP-P; Anadi Charan Sahu, MP BJP; Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, General Secretary MMA; Smt. Margaret Alva, MP, INC; Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, former president of Pakistan and President of Millat Party; Laloo Prasad Yadav, President of RJD; Javaid Hashmi, acting President of PML-N; Moinul Hassan, MP, CPI-M; Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilour, ANP; Ram Vilas Paswan, President of Lok Janshakti; Syed Safwan Ullah, Federal Minister, MNA, MQM; Ramji Lal Suman, MP, SP; K. E.Krishnamaurthy, MP, TDP; Swaraj Kaushal, MP, HVP and Senator Sanullah Baloch, BNP (see pages 22-27). Chaudhary Ameer Hussain, Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, was the Chief Guest and addressed the conference (see page 20). He also hosted a lunch for the delegates, observers and guests (670) after the ceremony.

Session-I: Understanding This was the first closed-door session on understanding positions of different parties on Indo-Pak relations. The discussion was quite frank and useful. For the first time a variety of representatives of varied public opinion met together and came to know each other's positions on various aspects of IndoPak relations. Although Kashmir and cross-border terrorism dominated the deliberations, most speakers emphasised the need to have an integrated, uninterruptible and productive dialogue, without ignoring one crucial issue or the other or the concerns of the parties involved and making the dialogue 10

hostage to one or the other issue and condition. The tone was in fact set by a very articulate input by Mani Shankar Aiyar who formulated a very profound approach to have a dialogue. Those who spoke in the session were: Mani Shankar Aiyar, MP, INC; Sherry Rehman MNA, PPP-P; Bhan Singh Bhaura, MP, CPI; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad Duranni; Saleem Shervani, MP, SP; Dr. Akmal Hussain, economist; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi; Begum Tehmina Daultana, MNA, PML-N; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Satish Nambiar; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood; Abid Hasan Minto, leading jurist; Ram Jethmalani, member Rajiya Sabha; Hameeda Khuro, historian; S. Nihal Singh, senior editor (see pages 29-33). Another significant event in the evening was the dinner-reception hosted by Makhdoom Amin Fahim, on behalf of PPP Chair-person Ms Benazir Bhutto. Similarly, High Commissioner of India, Shri S. Menon, hosted a reception for the delegates of the conference.

Session II: CBMs Subjects of this session were: Measures for de-escalation; measures for visa relaxation, especially for journalists; measures for a composite, sustainable and result-oriented process of dialogue; measures for trade and economic cooperation; measures to make SAARC vibrant and viable. Overall emphasis was on shifting the resources from military security to human security. A number of CBMs were proposed ranging from sports links, to youth and cultural exchanges, trade and conflict/nuclear management, relaxation of

visa regime, especially for the journalists and writers, to allowing free movement of media products, agreeing to South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) to promoting people-to-people contacts. Those who participated in the discussion were: I A Rehman, senior editor and human rights activist; Dinesh Trivedi, MP, Trinamool Congress; Senator Muhammad Ali Durani, General Secretary Millat Party; Sardar Zora Singh Maan, MP, Akali Dal; Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, senior editor; Prabash Joshi, journalist ; Kanwer Khalid Younis, MNA, MQM; Smt Margaret Alva, MP, Congress; Kashmala Tariq, MNA, PML-Q; Vinod Sharma, journalist; Hamid Nasir Chatta, MNA, President PML-J; Mrs. M. P. Durga, MP, CPI-M; Krishnaswamy, MP Smata party; Saiyidul Saiyidain Naqvi, senior journalist; Senator Farhatullah Babar, PPP-P; Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilour, ANP and Abani Roy, MP, RSP.(see pages 37-42) Most significant event of the day was luncheon-reception hosted by Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali in honour of the delegates of the conference, especially the Indian guests, at the Prime Minister House. The Prime Minister also made brief welcoming remarks on the occasion and called for â&#x20AC;&#x153;peace and only peaceâ&#x20AC;?.

Session-III: Conflict Resolution This was the most engaging session that attracted input from largest number of delegates. Broadly the house focused on Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism. A variety of opinions were expressed. However, most agreed on

In the flash lights

the need to resolve Kashmir question and cross-border terrorism through dialogue without making it a pre-condition for the resumption of dialogue. The majority view favoured simultaneous dialogue on all issues and progress in areas wherever possible to deepen confidence and expand cooperation, in order to create favourable conditions, for the resolution of most intractable issues. Interestingly, the house did not entertain pre-conditions attached to dialogue. Although most Pakistani speakers emphasised the need to resolve Kashmir issue, most favoured progress in all areas where cooperation was possible. Similarly, most speakers from the Indian side focused on crossborder terrorism, but many of them did not make resumption of dialogue conditional upon its cessation first. Those who addressed this session were: Ram Nath Kovind, MP, BJP; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Naseer Akhtar; Dileep Padgaonkar, journalist; Abdul Hayye Baloch, President BNM; Sherry Rehman, MNA, PPP-P; M.P.Bhandara, MNA, PMLQ; Talib Hussain, MP, National Conference; Prem Shankar Jha, columnist; Aman Ullah Khan, chairman JKLF and Seema Mustafa, journalist. (see pages 44-47)

Concluding Session High point of the conference was the 'Sense of the House' (see page 13) that reflected the consensus reached across the political and ideological divides. This document emphasised the need for an “integrated, uninterruptible, result-oriented and well-structured process” between India and Pakistan. It recognised the concern of Pakistan over the Kashmir issue and India's concern about cross-border infiltration. The statement supported SAFMA's demand for free movement of journalists and media products across frontiers without hindrances. The House resolved to promote peace and understanding in the subcontinent. As the delegates supported a composite dialogue on all issues, they also emphasised the imperative to address all issues without ignoring any major issue while moving forward where agreement was possible that should, in turn, facilitate the resolution of most thorny issues. Draft of the Sense of the House was prepared by the Subject Committee of the Conference and consensus was achieved before presenting the draft before the House where no dissenting voice was raised. Again in the lights of cameras and presence of the media, the speakers in the concluding session repeated their known positions. However, diversity of views from either country was too obvious with the difference that tones were much milder than the opening ceremony, except for Ishaq Khakawani's exceptionally hawkish speech. Those who addressed the ceremony were: Mrs Sarla Maheshwari, MP,CPIM; Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, senior editor; Balbir Punj, MP, BJP; Ishaq Khan

Khakawani, MNA, PML-Q, S. Nihal Singh, senior journalist; Sherry Rehman, MNA, PPP-P; and Mani Shankar Aiyar, MP, Congress. (see pages 53-55) The conference came to conclusion with Foreign Minister Mian Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri's speech (see page 50) that was followed by the dinner hosted by him. Mr Kasuri appreciated SAFMA's initiative while emphasising the need for resumption of dialogue at the official level. He also launched SAFMA's news and views website, www.southasianmedia.net. On August 12 the Indian delegates were invited to visit the Parliament House by the Speaker of National Assembly where souvenirs were presented to Indian MPs.

Highpoint The climax of the whole exercise reached its peak by the interaction of President Pervez Musharraf with the Indian delegation. It was a very candid and frank exchange of views after the address by the President who had also arranged tea in honour of the Indian guests and SAFMA office-bearers (see page 4). Soon after the meeting with the President, the Chief Minister of NWFP Akram Durrani and the leadership of MMA hosted a luncheonreception in honour of Indian MPs and other guests. Hundreds of Maulanas and leadership of the component parties of the MMA were present at the Frontier House, Islamabad. Political significance of MMA's reception, in the words of an editor, was that “the leading clerics will now be giving sermons of peace, instead of Jihad, in their Friday address”. As the Indian guests arrived in Lahore, Chief Minister of the Punjab, Chaudhary Parvez Elahi, hosted a marvelous dinner for them. It must be acknowledged that Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, the PML-Q chief facilitated the conference at all levels. Last but not the least was the farewell lunch hosted by leading human rights activist Asma Jehangir at her residence. Besides the conference and receptions, the welcome the Indian leaders and guests received from the people made it a memorable event. Right from the Wahgah border, where they were received by a large number of men and women, including the JUI and Joint Action Committee for People's Rights' activists, they were garlanded with flowers wherever they went. Not to forget was the civic reception arranged by the Joint Action Committee for People's Rights in Lahore where a play on peace was also presented. During a short period of four days, Laloo Prasad Yadav emerged as the most popular leader comparing even the popularity of national leaders of Pakistan. He in fact made the peace issue a most popular issue.

Sense

of the House

(Prepared by the Subject Committee of the Conference and presented by Secretary General SAFMA before the Concluding Session)

arliamentarians from most parties of the two parliaments, political leaders, media persons and experts from Pakistan and India having met at Islamabad on August 10 and 11, 2003, at the invitation of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). Having deliberated upon the urgency of understanding between the two countries, confidence-building measures and conflict-resolution efforts the participants have reached a broad understanding on the following lines: While the recent initiatives by the governments of India and Pakistan towards normalisation of their relations are welcome, it is necessary to expedite the process of dialogue at the levels of both states and people and approach all requisites of confidence-building, conflict management and conflict resolution with an integrated, uninterruptible, result-oriented and a well structured process.

Speaker National Assembly and SAFMA presidium Standing in respect as national anthems of Pakistan & India are played

Inspired by the realisation among the masses on both sides of the divide for burying the hatchet and resolving our differences through peaceful means, the participants have agreed to pursue a wholistic vision that does not ignores any divisive issue. Conscious of the demands of realism and in consideration of the concerns of the two sides, the participants have taken note of the issues that have fuelled confrontation between India and Pakistan such as Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keenness for an early settlement of the Kahmir issue and Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concern at cross-border terrorism. They are convinced that while these issues need to be addressed on priority basis, no purpose will be served by ignoring possibilities of cooperation in various fields. This would create the goodwill and confidence necessary for the resolution of conflicts and issues that impede progress in other mutually beneficial areas. The participants agree on the need for creating maximum possible space for people of the two countries to recognise and respect each other and strive jointly for guaranteeing a better future for the coming generations. All unreasonable restrictions on travel between the two countries must be expeditiously dismantled.

(Left to right) Makhdoom Amin Fahim, President PPP-P, Senator Ehsanul Haq Piracha, former president Farooq Leghari, President MP, Senator Durani, MP, and the last but not the least Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain President ruling PML-Q

The participants, in addition to encouraging the two governments to stay the normalisation course, are convinced that political parties should give priority to mobilising their ranks for peace and good-neighbourly relations and allowing greater space for all civil society organisations to support this process. The participants agreed that the establishment of peace in the subcontinent cannot be viewed separately from the aspirations of the people for a genuinely democratic dispensation, gender equality, the rights of the under-privileged and the minorities and their empowerment. They, therefore, stressed the desirability of strengthening relations between the parliamentarians, journalists, academics, businesspersons, experts, professionals, students, workers, farmers, artists and sportspersons of the two countries. The conference took note of the SAFMA Protocol: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Free Movement of Media-persons and Media-products Across the South Asian Regionâ&#x20AC;?. It stresses freedom of media and the right of media-persons to carry out their professional responsibilities, free from state intervention and nonstate pressures. All overt and covert restrictions on the free flow of information and ideas should be removed and the indefensible practice

(Left to right) Sardar Zora Singh Mann, MP Shiromani Akali Dal, Laloo Parasad Yadav, President RJD, Ram Jethmalani, MP Independent and Saleem Iqbal Shervani, MP SP, with other delegates.

of blocking audio-visual channels and subjecting media-persons to restrictions regarding visas and freedom of travel should be abandoned. Duly accredited media-practitioners with ten-years of recognised professional experience must be granted five-year multiple-entry visas valid country-wide. They should be free from police reporting and should be granted expeditiously There should be harmonisation of all tariffs with a zero-duty regime. Media-products, including newspapers, magazines, periodicals, books, cassettes, videos, soft-wares and electronically transmitted features/stories/news, etc., should be allowed free flow across borders. The participants recognise their role in the cause of peace, democracy and justice and resolve to strive, collectively and severally to resist the forces of fanaticism, extremism and violence. The participants felicitate SAFMA and its Indian and Pakistan chapters for their trial-blazing initiative and thank them for the excellent conference arrangements and warmest possible hospitality and for providing a foretaste of the spirit of amity and free discourse that the people of India and Pakistan need and certainly deserve. They will welcome such initiatives by SAFMA in future and possibly holding a follow-up conference in India.

PML-Q President Ch. Shujaat Hussain sharing the same benches with PMLN leaders, including its Acting President Javaid Hashmi

Meeting of hearts

Unusually exciting

n behalf of SAFMA Pakistan and on my own behalf, I welcome you, especially the elected representatives from India, distinguished experts and our journalist colleagues, to this conference, including the Pakistani top political leadership and delegates from almost all political parties. I thank Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, Leaders of opposition Ms Sonia Gandhi and Ms Benazir Bhutto for having sent their messages for the By M. Ziauddin conference and President General President SAFMA, Pakistan Pervez Musharraf for having invited the Indian guests to tea in the Presidency and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali for having invited the conference delegates to lunch in the Prime Minister House. My special thanks to Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly Ch Ameer Hussain for gracing this occasion of opening ceremony. SAFMA has been engaged in brining the media persons from across South Asia on its platform to jointly voice our concerns for freedom of media, free flow of and access to information. It has now emerged as a mainstream media body of journalists of this region while struggling for our freedoms and rights, SAFMA has come in the forefront of developing understanding, promoting confidence building, facilitating conflict resolution, enhancing regional cooperation and, above all, peace and cooperation in the region. Noting in despair the continuing tension between India and Pakistan, SAFMA welcomed the peace gestures by Prime Minister of Pakistan Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. The idea of this conference was agitating our minds for some time as we watched helplessly an adversarial relationship and as every conference of SAFMA got boggled down with Indo-Pak issues. When we met in Dhaka for our third conference on Media and Democracy, May 25-26, 2003, the two chapters of SAFMA from India and Pakistan decided to bring parliamentarians, experts and journalists from the two countries together in Islamabad to push the peace process forward. I hope this conference will provide a good occasion for meeting of hearts and a useful interaction among the elected representatives of the people. I again thank you all for helping this conference take place and request you all to make it successful for the cause of peace in our region. 15

hat an event! This gathering is both unusual and exciting. It is unusual because it is being held by journalists, under SAFMA India and Pakistan. How it happened is an interesting story. It is exciting because the participants include parliamentarians from almost all political parties in both the countries, journalists, experts and representatives of the civil society. A veritable rainbow of political and public opinions, their By K. K. Katyal complexions may differ, the curves may President SAFMA, India vary, but they add up to a harmonious whole and serve a very worthy cause. As has been pointed out in one of our notes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the imbroglio between India and Pakistan cannot be handled unless tackled head on, with a holistic vision involving all mainstream forces, powerful stakeholders and, above all, respective civil societies.â&#x20AC;? Needless to say, the initiative of the Prime Minister of India, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, extending the hand of friendship to Pakistan, and equally positive sentiments by his counterpart here, Mr. Zafarullah Khan Jamali, helped give a concrete shape to our vague ideas. The parliamentarians from India represent almost all political parties. As such, they will bring to bear the collective wisdom of the country on the discussions. The same is the case with the representatives from Pakistan. Think of the inter-play of the ideas from the two sides and the result could not be but exciting and productive. It is a matter of great satisfaction to have at our forum those operating the supreme democratic institutions, the parliaments. It is better to have peace and amity between neighbours than continuous tension and acrimony. We have to persevere rather than to throw up our hands in despair. The present conference, India-Pakistan dialogue, has to be seen in this context. The two governments, of course, will be dealing with each other and, hopefully, making headway. But, without waiting for them to formulate concrete plans of action, non-officials have a key role to play. They are bettersuited to reach out to their peoples, the ultimate sovereign, and acquaint them with the real situation. Hopefully, we, at this conference would be able to remove the cobwebs of misunderstandings, suspicions and mistrust through a thorough interaction among ourselves.

Indo-Pak imbroglio: An

alternative view Imtiaz Alam Secretary General SAFMA

his is indeed a great event of historic importance when the elected representatives, nominated by their party heads as delegates, from almost all parties in the two legislatures of India and Pakistan have got together here in the first of its kind Indo-Pak parliament at Islamabad. It provides a unique opportunity to develop understanding, contemplate confidence-building measures and open our minds to evaluate various creative, just and mutually acceptable solutions to the most intractable of all issues, such as Kashmir, and assess ways to manage nuclear and military stabilisation. Above all, this conference should encourage saying farewell to arms and identifying a rewarding path to peaceful, mutually beneficial and brotherly neighbourhood. Unfortunately, meaningful cooperation at the South Asian level is hamstrung by Pakistan-India logjam leaving SAARC, as a consequence, in a lurch. More than any region in the world, and like Middle East, the subcontinent requires a multi-pronged initiative and a healing touch in a pre-conflict, conflict situation. It warrants statesmanship, flexibility, give-and-take and necessary will to initiate a process of de-escalation, confidence-building and an integrated dialogue to resolve conflicts and build bridges of cooperation, wherever possible, simultaneously. After a prolonged standoff between India and Pakistan, the ice seems to be melting, even though the causes behind the animosity and conflict continue to persist. Unless tackled head on with a wholist vision and the involvement of all mainstream forces, powerful stakeholders and, above all, civil societies, the Pakistan-India imbroglio cannot be tackled. The plight of its people and challenges of the present day uni-polar world and globalisation warrant rethinking, dialogue, understanding and resolution at all levels.

Thanks to the initiative for friendship taken by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and equally reciprocated by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, an opportunity for peace seems to be emerging once again that should not be missed as has been happening in the past. Lessons have to be learnt from the past failures and efforts have to be made to build a sound edifice for a composite, meaningful and a sustainable dialogue to address whole gambit of issues without either ignoring any crucial issue or making palpable progress in areas of possible cooperation a hostage to one or the other issue. Not only that area of major concerns to the concerned parties be addressed, but also progress, in whichever area it is possible, be made in the best interest of the people of subcontinent. A sound and result oriented road-map can be worked out to tackle even the most intractable of all issues, such as Kashmir, besides moving in other areas. Completely debarring use of force to resolve disputes and rejecting repression and terrorism, perpetrated by the state or private agencies against the innocent people, Pakistan and India should unequivocally declare their resolve to take the path of peace and reconciliation to solve all disputes and issues while exploiting full potential of all avenues of possible areas of cooperation. But, admittedly, there are no easy solutions to our differences and historically rooted perceptions take time to change. Nor can our idealistic dreams, which we should continue to relish, become reality unless we address all contentious issues in a very realistic, pragmatic and far-sighted manner, regardless of what we have been posturing or saying under the burden of

(Left to right) K.K. Katyal, President SAFMA India, Reazuddin Ahmed, President SAFMA, Speaker National Assembly, Ch. Ameer Hussain, Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General SAFMA, M. Ziauddin, President SAFMA Pakistan, Mustansar Javed, Gen. Sec. SAFMA Pakistan, Irshad Haqqani, Senior Editor, Aroosa Alam, President SAFMA Islamabad

historical baggage and rigidities of our fossilised officialdom or to satisfy the hardliners. This is now clear even to the hawks of hawks that war is no option, especially after the induction of nuclear weapons, although it broke out thrice and it cannot still be ruled out but it would be a mutually assured destruction. Similarly, the kind of diplomacy the two countries have been indulging in the past has not produced historic breakthroughs, although some very important agreements were signed and many critical issues were resolved, such as on water distribution. The diplomacy, the subcontinent has learnt through the decades of Indo-Pak cold war has been bellicosity-by-rotation of the sorts to sustain deadlock or break a deadlock to create another deadlock. If we review our diplomatic history, we find a whole list of breach of agreements, declarations, covenants and resolutions we accepted or signed, by one side or the other or by both sides. In fact bad relations between India and Pakistan provide a bumpy pitch to the foul play of bowlers of some political varieties to bold out any sensible quid pro quo or those who caution safe-play and plead for an even play field. The truth of the matter is that India-Pakistan conflict provides 'necessary external condition' for the growth of religious revivalism, extremism and authoritarianism in both the countries. The xenophobia in both the countries is mutually reinforcing. This is just not a coincidence that in the building of two nation-states, an element of exclusion of other side and suspicion about the 'enemy' worked to the disadvantage of good relations between the two neighbours. The enemysyndrome has kept both sides in a permanent state of paranoia. Consequently, there are quite powerful lobbies on both sides who thrive on

Burdened with Kashmir mission Ram Jethmalani curiously takes notes as Saleem Iqbal Shervani watches with fingers crossed

Indo-Pak tension and conflict. Time has really come to bury the hatchet and come out of living in the past. Pakistan is not an aberration of history, nor is India an empire not complete without annexation. A strong, prosperous, stable and democratic Pakistan is not only in the best interest of our people, but also in the interest of both India and South and Western Asia. Similarly, a prosperous, democratic and secular India suits its people and South Asia if it takes care of its neighbours. However, disproportion in size and strength between India and its middlesized and smaller neighbours create a genuine sense of insecurity that can and should be addressed by an elder brother who ought to be considerate elder brother. There are certain approaches that have not worked or will not work. They have to give way to more realistic approaches. We know very well why recent appreciable efforts to normalise relations are not helping the process to pick steam. A bilateral approach should equally address the concerns and priorities of each side. Otherwise, nothing will move forward. Certain principles will have to be agreed. They are: 1. Resolution of conflict and differences through peaceful means and negotiations. 2. The dialogue should be without conditions and without interruption. 3. The agenda should include the concerns of both sides and address simultaneously the priorities of two sides. 4. The two cores of the core issue-the issue of Kashmir and terrorism and repression should be addressed and sequenced to resolve to the bilateral satisfaction and the Kashmiris. 5. Simultaneous approach of resolving the twin issues of Kashmir and terrorism and cooperation wherever it is possible to expand vested interest in peace dividends and create goodwill to solve intractable issues. 6. Move forward from where the grounds were covered at Lahore and Agra for a composite, result-oriented and accommodating dialogue with a spirit of give and take. 7. Keeping big picture of South Asian cooperation ahead and benefits from it. 8. Raising the level of threshold against any provocation while stopping hate-campaign. 9. All hurdles in the way of people-to-people contacts should be removed, especially the free movement of journalists across frontiers and free flow of information to overcome the information deficit.

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Balancing the gender imbalance: Sarla Maheshwari, CPI-M, Mrs. N. P. Durga, TDP

Some mechanics can also be offered, such as: a) Foreign secretaries level talks should start immediately to work out the agenda for a composite dialogue and road-map. b) Parallel to that, and benefitting from the recent experience of other conflict-resolution efforts, nomination of authoritative Special Emissaries by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf with an open agenda. c) Holding of summit after some preparations. d) Format of two-plus-six may be pursued simultaneously without either putting the biggest irritants on the back-burner or making normalisation process a hostage to one issue or the other. e) 12th SAARC Summit should be held as agreed and not letting SAARC become a victim of the whim of one party or the other on one pretext or the other. f) Granting India MFN status and moving ahead with SAPTA and SAFTA. g) Agreements that can be reached, or have been reached but not implemented, such as on Siachin, should be immediately signed and implemented. Some Confidence-building measures need to be taken without delay:

10. 11. 12.

Revival of rail and air links. Bring an end to the hate-campaign from both sides. Soften non-tariff barriers to allow greater contact among people. Allow five year visas to journalists with ten years of professionals standing for the whole country without delay and police reporting and permit free flow of information. Allow pilgrims to sacred places from both sides and of all religions through regular special shuttles. Start bus-service between Amritsar and Lahore, Muzaffarabad and Srinagar. Allow contacts among the Kashmiris and their leaders. Allow oil and gas pipelines through joint ventures. Allow trade on the lists agreed by two chambers of commerce and industry. Allow frequent cultural exchanges. Create a joint forum of the two parliaments. Implement Memorandum of Understanding announced at the Lahore summit.

This most representative conference should take into consideration whatever can be done to improve relations between the two brothers while rising above, at least for two days, above party and one-sided affiliations. Besides two inaugural and closing ceremonies, we will have three off-therecord closed-door sessions for frank, useful and productive dialogue. I am confident that we will be able to send a message to the people of subcontinent, a message of amity and friendship. Thank you very much for hearing me too long and for your cooperation to make this conference a success. I hope your stay in Pakistan will be comfortable and memorable. I conclude with a couplet that I read on my way to Delhi on the Dosti Bus: Dil ka Darwaja khol key ana, wapas ja key bhul na jana. Jai Pakistan, Jai Hind.

Chaudhary Ameer Hussain Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan

Launching

South Asian JOURNAL

Chaudhary Ameer Hussain Speaker of National Assembly Pakistan addressing the inaugural ceremony

Building

parliamentarians'

solidarity

t is indeed a privilege for me to inaugurate this conference being attended by a galaxy of parliamentarians and media personnel from India and Pakistan. I am pleased to observe that the visiting parliamentarians represent a diverse background. The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) deserves to be congratulated for organising this event, which is the first of this kind. Democracy in Pakistan is gaining strength and stability with each coming day. The Senate of Pakistan, the National Assembly and all the four Provincial Assemblies are functioning in a satisfactory manner, striving for the betterment of masses. The Legislatures of today are more representative than any other time in the history of Pakistan. There is more than 22% representation of women, a large number of youngsters and representatives of all political parties are aspiring to excel in parliamentary practices. I firmly believe that legislators can and must lead the way in peace process between India and Pakistan. A legislature, being the governing body,

exercises a wide variety of administrative as well as legislative responsibilities as defined in the Constitution. The State Legislature represents the people in deliberating on and deciding about the matters affecting the common man. I believe that the members of the Assembly can be affective in confidence-building and conflict-resolution because the elected representatives in our two countries wield a considerable amount of personal influence, apart from their official positions. A free and vibrant media is the sign of a healthy society. With the revolution in information technology, the capacity of print and electronic media has increased manifold in formulating the public opinion. The media can, I believe, serve as a vital link in confidence-building and conflict-resolution between India and Pakistan as well. The role of media is also crucial because in my opinion, the politicians are quite alike and they work very closely with each other most of the times. I am firm that objective and to the point reporting is the first step towards a healthy interaction. It not only generates a feeling of mutual respect but also nurtures confidence. The responsibility of the press is to project friendly image and discourage the shadows of enmity. Let me take this opportunity to remind all of you that while we talk about media, we must not forget the formidable presence and importance of vernacular press, both in India and Pakistan. The editors and journalists present here today would surely agree with me that the vernacular press is a segment of media, which is most vocal, influential and far reaching. Today, the South Asian Free Media Association has brought all of us together. So we must appreciate people and retired civilian and military officers in keeping the track-II circuits alive, even in toughest of times. South Asia is home to almost one-fifth of the world population. Despite the individual importance of Pakistan and India in world politics, most of our population lives in abject poverty. Being nuclear powers now, a great responsibility rests on our shoulders. We should strive to settle our old disputes amicably and search for new vistas of cooperation for the betterment of the masses. Economics is the key to survival. At present, we are facing serious economic problems including staggering external debt, high debt servicing ratios, global recession, unemployment, natural calamities and volatile situations on our borders. Economic cooperation and inter-dependence are viable methods of conflict-resolution. In such a situation, the legislators can play an important role in promoting legislation for economic development and cooperation. I also sincerely feel that parliamentary interaction can be enormously beneficial for us. We have a lot to learn from our common experiences in coalition governments and multi-party setups. Global politics is entering a new phase, one that is full of challenges. 20

Terrorism has come up as a potential threat for the civilised people of our world. Pakistan has, time and again, condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and is a part of the international campaign against terrorism. However, the issue of terrorism can be dealt effectively only through a joint and comprehensive approach. Such an approach entails: (a) A consensus on definition of terrorism; (b) Collective efforts to eliminate terrorism; and (c) Addressing root causes of terrorism. All of us are aware of the fact that the issue of Kashmir remains the primary source of tension between India and Pakistan. The resolution of Kashmir dispute is vital for peace in South Asia; we are looking for lasting peace and 21

cooperation in South Asia, rather than a temporary break-through. I hope that a sustained and structured dialogue between Pakistan and India will commence soon on all outstanding issues, including the d i s p u t e o v e r Jammu&Kashmir under already agreed mechanism. A policy of multi-lateral regional cooperation has not been a very popular choice in South Asia. SAARC has to be strengthened to pursue such a policy. A viable and effective mechanism of regional cooperation can prove to be very effective in resolution of disputes and building of mutual trust and confidence, as we have seen in the case of ASEAN. The 12th SAARC Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan next January, Pakistani Parliament, Indian MPs, with their beautiful hosts would hopefully provide a new direction to the stalled process of regional cooperation. We look forward to receiving Prime Minister Vajpayee in Pakistan at the occasion. I personally, attach a great deal of importance to symbolic gestures and am glad to note that this conference is taking place at a time when there is a significant breakthrough at the governmental level also. The resumption of bus service has taken place and talks about resumption of air links are underway, only to mention a few out of the long list of anticipated confidence- building measures by the two governments. In the end, I must once again congratulate the South Asian Free Media Association and wish all of you success in your deliberations during the course of this conference. For our Indian guests, I hope that this trip of yours is a memorable one, the memories of which you may cherish with your families and friends in the times to come.

Ch. Shujaat Hussain President PML-Q

Senior politicians, media persons and scholars from both Pakistan and India have a vital role to play in promoting peace and friendship between the two countries. Peace and good neighbourly relations are of great importance for the welfare and prosperity of the two countries. Both India and Pakistan have initiated talks many times but could not succeed. Exchange of cultural delegations and opening rail links cannot bring peace without resolving the core issue of Kashmir. After the tragic incident of September 11, the world community is stressing on the peaceful settlement of disputes in different regions. Although Kashmir is a regional issue, it has international implications too. The world community should focus on this issue like it does on Palestine, regardless of their own interests. I would propose that the Kashmir issue be treated as a priority for the welfare and prosperity of millions of people in South Asia. Peace in the region can only be achieved when the core issue is resolved to the satisfaction of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan government fully supports the peace initiative of the international community and is ready to take any possible step to achieve this objective. A day would come when better sense would prevail and the Kashmir issue would be resolved to the satisfaction of the people of both countries. The political leadership in India and Pakistan should work out a lasting and peaceful settlement of all pending issues.

Anadi Charan Sahu MP, BJP

Prime Minister Vajpayee has been consistently trying for a peaceful and honourable settlement of all disputes between the two countries through bilateral talks. At the Wahgah border, we were received by young people with enthusiasm which indicated that the young generation in Pakistan is keen to develop understanding, tolerance, and friendship with India. India has been extending the hand of friendship at every conceivable moment. The terrorist attacks on Indian Parliament in December, 2001, and on the J&K Assembly are glaring examples of terrorism, trying to shake the very foundation of our democracy. Still we have not lost hope and would fervently wish that an era of understanding dawns. It is the time when meaningful dialogue should be initiated among politicians, journalists and thinkers to bring about a solution to the problems that both India and Pakistan are facing. What we think today, governments of both the countries will think tomorrow. Let's gauge the feelings of the common people of both the countries and suggest measures for normalising relations between India and Pakistan, which have a common history and culture.

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman

are sure that the bilateral moves for negotiations between India and Pakistan to bring peace would prove to be a good omen for the peaceful and prosperous future of this region, without any third party mediation. Both the countries should resolve the Kashmir problem according to the will of the Kashmiris without, however, hurting the legitimate interests of the two neighbours. War can never be a solution to any problem, rather it complicates the issue. This is the time to judge the political maturity of the decision makers of both the countries. The hegemonic attitude of the present US administration has disturbed the whole world. Against this backdrop, the interaction among the parliamentary delegations, the meetings of journalists and the interaction among traders, teachers and scholars is the need of the hour for understanding, confidence building and resolving bilateral and multilateral conflicts among nations. Parliamentarians can play a pivotal role in achieving this target. “Journey of the thousand miles starts, but with a step”. Let's take that first step. This SAFMA conference will be remembered as a real and meaningful first step towards bringing peace in South Asia. Let’s start a dialogue at the official level as well and resolve not to let this process of confidence building derail.

MNA, General Secretary MMA

The activism of parliamentarians and the journalists for peace is the need of the hour. The role of journalists has been enhanced in such circumstances and now their responsibility is to defend the constitutional democracies rather than dictatorships. It is their universal responsibility to inform the masses about the negative impact and dangers of dictatorship, wars and conflicts. The illogical reaction of the US after the tragedy of 9/11 has affected the world beyond any proportion, especially the South Asian region. Now it is the high time that the aspirations and wishes of the people should be reflected in the decisions taken by the parliaments of all the democratic countries. Parliamentarians will have to work hard in these circumstances to achieve this target and a meaningful progress can be made towards a better future through collective wisdom. The chauvinist notions of “clash of civilisations” and “the end of history” help imposition of aggressive wars on weaker nations, but an overwhelming response of the people against hegemonic wars and for peace brings us greater relief and confidence in the wisdom of a majority of the people who are peace-loving and against injustice. Millions of Europeans and even Americans registered their protest against the brutal policies of USA and Great Britain and against their war on Iraq. Prime Minister Vajpayee offered a hand of friendship to Pakistan, which was reciprocated by Pakistan's Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. It is a positive step in the right direction in the current global situation. We 23

Ram Vilas Paswan MP, President Lok Janshakti

People of India and Pakistan can promote friendship while living separately. Today, a number of other countries, which have been at loggerheads have developed trade relations; then India and Pakistan can also do business. Kashmir is a diabetic disease, which cannot be cured easily. We can maintain our friendship while tackling this issue. The tragedy of Iraq can be repeated when relations of states with their neighbours do not improve. Both the countries spend a lot of money on defence and weaponry. Poverty will never be eradicated until all this money is spent on productive activities. Unofficial exchanges between the two countries are needed to pressurise governments of both the countries, besides the talks at the official level. If the wall of enmity cannot be broken down, then at least conferences like the one SAFMA has organised can open our hearts. The message, conveyed through this conference will create new hope that relations between India and Pakistan will improve.

Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari Former President of Pakistan, MNA, President MP

Smt Margaret Alva MP, INC

On the day we became independent, our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We look upon the world with clear and friendly eyesâ&#x20AC;?. Unfortunately, however clear and friendly our eyes, our vision, whether in Delhi or Islamabad, has for 57 years been clouded with misunderstanding and mistrust. The fault doesn't lie in the hearts of the people of India and Pakistan. It lies in the mindsets that have stood in the way of the resolution of our problems. The problems are persistent. We cannot wish them away, nor can they be blown away in a gust of goodwill. Our mindsets have to find mutual accommodations. Dialogue alone can find the way to mutual understanding and mutual agreement. Both China and India have faced war in 1962 but now we have substantially put behind the anger and anguish of the past, to move forward on the path of dialogue towards mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. It cannot be said that all our problems have been solved. But it can be said, without fear of denial that tensions have been reduced and the cooperation in a number of fields is flowering. The way forward between India and Pakistan is dialogue. The dialogue needs a framework, which was laid in Simla in 1972. The principles of the Simla Agreement have been subscribed to by both India and Pakistan. We thus have an agreed framework and an agreed set of the principles. What requires now is a dialogue, which avoids the pitfalls of the past, and is so structured as to move forward towards mutually acceptable agreement.

Intellectuals from both India and Pakistan talk of democracy, which is often misunderstood. Real democracy lies in empowering common man of both India and Pakistan. A vast majority of them are being denied their legitimate and fundamental rights on account of their poverty and backwardness. More often, we are totally engaged in power politics and in that process, democracy is downgraded. And when it happens, human rights on both sides of the border are ignored to the loss of millions of people of subcontinent. India and Pakistan have fought three wars on certain contentious issues but the prime issue has been the question of Kashmir. It is an issue that needs to be discussed. Unless we do that we will continue to suffer. But how long can one-fifth of humanity be left as a hostage to the power play between the two countries? The leadership of India and Pakistan fully understand that Kashmir issue cannot be resolved by military means. We have been talking about the conflict-resolution measures but these need to be chosen with care. We would like India and Pakistan to sit together to talk about initiating sustainable dialogue.

Laloo Prasad Yadav

Javaid Hashmi

MP, President RJD

MNA, Acting, President PML-N

I do not feel alien to Pakistan. To me, it is like moving in the Punjab, Bihar and Delhi. There should not be any doubt left in the hearts of the people about us, we who are representing people of India, and all political parties here. We have come with a message of love and brotherhood. We should move forward to bring an end to poverty. Instead of fighting on issues, which are widening the gulf between India and Pakistan, we should try to bridge it. I do not want to indulge in identifying the reasons behind the conflict. However, if the neighbours are in conflict over an issue, it hampers development and deprives children of education, denies people a decent life and they cannot even interact among themselves. I feel that there is a dire need to strengthen our cordial relations to prosper and for the betterment of people. The process of negotiation should start and this wall of hatred should be brought down when people of both the states are craving to see their relatives in both countries. We are the messengers of peace, love and brotherhood here. Now the need is to forget the disputes, restore the air and rail links to let the people of both countries travel freely across borders. It is the duty of the law enforcing agencies to keep an eye on the culprits but innocent public should not suffer. Now the time is to get united and remove all malice impeding friendship between the two countries. At the arrival of the delegation in Lahore, a local organisation staged a play where children demonstrated both countries fighting with each other and ending in great loss. This is what even children realised, who need employment, jobs, and education. That is why friendship is needed. We were brothers, we are brothers and we will remain neighbors. When we get together to discuss the conflicting issues, no third party mediation will be needed.

Since the partition, both Indian and Pakistan leaderships have tried to initiate cordial relation between the two countries. As Noor-ul-Amin, a Pakistani leader, said the emergence of Pakistan was made possible with the complete help and assistance on part of India but, unfortunately, tensions have led both countries to wars. History bears out the fact that even after wars, disputes had to be resolved through negotiations. There is a need to acknowledge the will of the people in Kashmir and Pakistan. In the South Asian region, India is a big power but Pakistan has its own strength and identity which needs to be acknowledged. Let's move towards the acceptance of each other and develop tolerance. We should not be afraid of each other and should take the initiative to curb poverty and to promote peace and cordial relations between the two countries.

Moinul Hassan MP, CPI-M

This conference and its deliberations may help to build up a movement of the people of the two countries. Our party, CPI-M, is in favour of a coherent dialogue between the two countries to solve all conflicts and issues. Both India and Pakistan are facing the same problems like poverty and unemployment. Finally, the SAFMA conference has provided an occasion for building confidence and creating an atmosphere for improving relations between India and Pakistan. Our party welcomes the initiative of Prime Minister Vajpayee to resume talks with Pakistan that, subsequently, received positive response from Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Syed Safwan Ullah

Ramji Lal Suman

Federal Minister, MNA, MQM

MP, SP

In 1947, knowledgeable people believed that if prosperity was to be brought to 98% people of this region, then the masses of both the countries needed to think together to resolve their disputes. After fifty years of struggle, now SAFMA realised this need again and started a new journey. It invites us to forget some assumed positions to accept the ground realities. War doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resolve any issue. After fighting three wars, now it is time to search for a solution to our problems through negotiations and interaction.

We are neither representatives of the Indian government nor the Pakistani government but only represent both Pakistani and Indian masses. No one wants to live in a stressed atmosphere. Pakistan and India used to do trade worth approximately 700 million dollars, when relations between both the countries were not as bad as they are now. We can restore our business relations even in the adverse circumstances we are now experiencing. I am sure that an agreement in agriculture sector between both the countries can generate 2.70 million jobs in India and one million in Pakistan. I want to inform all Pakistanis that Indian people want to see relations between both countries improved. There is only one issue on which all the parliamentarians of India are unanimous that peace should be brought between India and Pakistan. It is the decision of the Indian Parliament to opt for peaceful ways rather than war.

Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilour ANP

The more we meet and interact, the greater the public opinion will be built and then the leadership will be able to take decisions. Kashmir is undoubtedly, a core issue but this does not mean that we should stick to only one issue. The question is how to resolve it. Let's stop blaming ISI and RAW for every incident that happens either in Pakistan or India. We need to live peacefully, to alleviate poverty, and to solve problems like unavailability of drinking water. Trade, investment and tourism are the three items mentioned in the charter of SAARC out of which tourism can be another way to build up relations between India and Pakistan.

K. E. Krishnamaurthy MP, TDP

I wish our deliberations may bring forth some understanding and confidence building to sort out some of the outstanding issues between the two countries. Though there are some issues, which create an artificial distance between the two countries but they can be sorted out by mutual understanding. Our party's government has introduced Urdu as the second language in the Muslim districts of Andhra Pradesh. We suggest that games and sports may bring the two countries closer. We should start playing cricket and hockey matches again.

Swaraj Kaushal MP, HVP

The last time, I came to Pakistan, it was for a night, a very long night indeed. We were struggling between life and death as we were on board a hijacked plane. Again, I am here with you, alive and addressing this conference. As the former governor of one of the provinces in North East India, I can tell you from my little experience that whenever a dialogue fails, we shouldn't blame the dialogue. It only means that we have not talked enough. But you must also appreciate that every dialogue requires a conducive atmosphere and unless it is there, no dialogue is possible.

Senator Sanaullah Baloch BNP

All smiles at the Speakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lunch

I represent the most poor and helpless people of South Asia living in Balochistan, where the rate of poverty, unemployment and infant morality is the highest in the whole region. People who are working for peace in South Asia are fighting against poverty, unemployment and diseases but not against the governments of India and Pakistan. In Pakistan we, the parliamentarians are also fighting for the supremacy of parliament. I recommend that this meeting should demand the creation of a SAARC parliament, so that whenever there is an absence of democracy in any country, the peace process could be moved forward through this regional parliament.

A pleasant moment of Shervani with Kashmala, Speaker NA, and exceptionally somber Laloo, at the Parliament House

Behind the doors Anyone listening?

Surendra Arora Chairman of BJP Foreign Policy Cell

Dialogue between India and Pakistan will have to be sustained over a long period. I feel that in order for a dialogue to be pursued, you have to create a conducive atmosphere, which unfortunately does not exist at present. Unless we feel assured that the right kind of atmosphere is created, a regular and consistent dialogue will be difficult to have between our two countries. We need a change of mindset and we have to make a conscious effort to see that we do not do and say something, which hurts the other side. It is very important that we have some kind of restrain on our official media to ensure that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt the other side. The best approach would be to seek step by step development in this direction. We can build up a relationship in spheres like economics, science, education, even strategic dialogue and, finally, we will have a kind of understanding which will be conducive to eventual resolution of the border problem. The Kashmir issue cannot be immediately tackled and it has to be sacrificed for some time.

Prem Shankar Jha Columnist

There is a change in the atmosphere as we are meeting. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solve all the outstanding issues and let's talk about Kashmir but still there is an implied position of an unspoken subtext in the Indian position. This subtext seems to say the more we will be able to open up normal relations with Pakistan in other fields like culture, travel and above all trade; Kashmir will loose its absolute centrality in India and Pakistan disputes and we will see, how much we have to gain from each other's cooperation over a wide range of issues. Kashmir today falls into its right perspective as a dispute, an important one. Once relations in other fields become normal, it will then be possible to look 29

for compromising solutions, which do not endanger India's vital interests and its national unity. I feel cautiously optimistic for the future but I am not happy with the speed; both the governments are moving, although there is a great deal of initial hesitation and caution on both sides. Prime Minister Vajpayee is aware of the pulls within his party but he needs support from India and positive response from Pakistan. We should also perhaps take some risks on the question of crossborder terrorism and ask ourselves should we insist on its reduction as the precondition for talks? If we knew what the dialogue will result in, then we did not need the dialogue in the first place. So respect and willingness to listen to each other are precisely what we should have in mind. It does mean to be open to all solutions to every single issue whether it is economic or Kashmir. But if we listen with respect to the other side in the dialogue process, it means taking time and being patient and this is the first step towards progress and next step will be a structured meeting of foreign secretaries.

Bhan Singh Bhaura MP, CPI

We came here from India with love and friendship. Prior to 1947, both Pakistan and India were united but now one has to accept the historical reality that both are two separate nations. Though the people are living in two different countries, there is a great urge for solidarity and brotherhood among the common people. We have to live peacefully as it brings progress and cuts down unnecessary expenditure on weapons, which can be spent on development and prosperity of the two countries. The hawks of imperialism are working hard to regain total control over this subcontinent. Naturally, we have to be vigilant and that is possible only with peace, friendship and solidarity. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take oath for that.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad Duranni Peace is a process in itself, which has to be sustained and worked upon over a longer period. The first problem comes when you make your objectives public and the other side has its antennas up. Then you start being skeptical about the process before it has started. Secondly, who knows the result may turn out to be a surprise. We may find out that people, who were fighting over a piece of territory can become a model for cooperation. If we will start a process, which will be a multi-track and multi-speed process, things that get resolved will create a synergetic effect and the other issues will also start making headway. We know, Kashmir will take a little more time. In the meantime, we can make headway on some less complicated problems. The overall directions should be set by political leadership and within that direction task can be given to various sector experts, who know the limits and parameters. The condition of Kashmir or nothing or first Kashmir then anything else is as unreasonable as putting an end to crossborder terrorism is. The political will on both sides is not so exciting; it can give way to other considerations very quickly.

Saleem Iqbal Shervani MP, SP

I feel there is a desire in Pakistan that something should happen as far as relations with India are concerned. But some people say, we are emotionally attached to Kashmir. Why? Because they say there are two million Muslims living in Kashmir. But there are hundred and fifty million Muslims who live outside Kashmir. Who feels hurt? There is a need to get involved with hundred and fifty million, who live in other parts of India so that we can take this process forward. We need a bypass surgery in our relationship in which we do not take out the heart and throw it away at the end of the surgery; we instead need to strengthen the heart. So we will continue to talk about Kashmir but let

Kashmir not come in the way of economic relationship. I feel sorry when people come to India and have to undergo police reporting. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remove this barrier.

Dr. Akmal Hussain Economist

I would stress the link between starting an uninterrupted dialogue on one hand, and building a conducive atmosphere for the dialogue, on the other hand. A composite dialogue is an aggregation of sectoralised interactions. Second important proposition is that dialogue in the beginning is indeterminate and how it will end is indeterminate too. We are in contradiction with the second aspect when we insist that we need to build pre-condition of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;conducive atmosphereâ&#x20AC;?. There are two alternative ways of approaching India and Pakistan dialogue. One is Mani Shankar's view and the other is the view that there has to be a conducive atmosphere before the process starts. What is impelling the two countries into a dialogue in the first place? There are two propositions for that. First is that both countries have recognised that a terrible balance of power exists between the two countries at the nuclear level and this balance of terror precludes the possibility of any military initiative taken by other side leading towards a successful end. So in other words, military initiatives are recognised by professionals on both sides of the border as being infeasible. Second is that Pakistan, perhaps more than India, and India also recognised that the long term security of the state depends on strengthening the economy and on improving the material conditions of its citizens. In Pakistan, the security critically depends on confronting poverty and overcoming it. The national security of each side requires peace with its neighbours. I think, given the forces impelling both sides into a dialogue, we should really begin a dialogue and not talk about pre-conditions.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi We are preparing a conducive atmosphere here. Let's not restrict ourselves to making conducive effort only on Kashmir or anything related to Kashmir. Both our nations are carrying a whole lot of baggage of 55 years. We have become prisoners of past and at each successive attempt for normalising relations, certain things are added on it. A step by step approach certainly has a lot of meaning for continuing the dialogue. We should not brush away this point about cross-border infiltration. It is a major issue between the two countries and we cannot just push it away by saying that we can tackle it later. Even the best of the neighbours have problems. These problems can be sorted out not by sticking to certain positions and by clinging to certain myths. These myths need to be broken by the political leaderships of both the countries. Let's not be too ambitious in formulating a road map for talks. There are domestic compulsions of political leadership which need to be factored when we talk about it. The need is to shed the baggage of the past and adopt something new.

Begum Tehmina Daultana MNA, PML-N

Is it the politicians who are hampering good relations between India and Pakistan or is it somebody else, who is trying all the time that relations should not be good between the two countries? We need to spend more money on health and education, which is highly desired by the people of both the countries. Why have we been spending so much on arms? Why are we all thinking of having nuclear bombs? We spend a lot on defence. What will happen when we will have to compete with the entire world? We can only do it if we are able to communicate with each other. I categorically say it is the politicians, who will be able to solve these problems not anybody else and negotiations should not be stopped.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Satish Nambiar I think we need to look for something new if we want to progress. If we go back to the same beaten track, we will not go very far. The problem is a baggage of history and it will probably be more productive to shed some baggage. It is not a bad idea to take some of the parliamentarians to Jammu & Kashmir.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood People of India and Pakistan are forcing a change on the political leaderships of their countries. This pressure is undoubtedly very helpful and now it depends on the leadership of both the countries to channelise the pressure coming from the people. The other factor is the realisation that after 9/11 a military solution to the Kashmir problem is not possible. Both countries have to understand that they cannot militarily prevail on each other. The question is as to how we should proceed with the peace process to bring about the political change in the thinking of the leadership? If politicians on both sides win elections on the basis of strengthening of mutual ties, it can strengthen political will. The leadership is still apprehensive and does not trust each other. You need a conducive atmosphere before you talk about other matters. Let's continue this process to genuinely move forward towards peace. By and large, people and leaders of both the countries have now come to that realisation that there is no way for these countries to actualise their full potential except peace. The policy of having volatile border and maintaining the balance of power through having a volatile LoC is also no more feasible. What we need is peace on borders so that we can really advance towards economic prosperity and bring about greater cultural, economic and social linkages.

M. J. Akbar Editor, Asian Age

We have gradually but unconsciously moved to the human cost, which the Indo-Pak conflict has extracted from both the nations. Before Pakistan and India went to war, visa was easy and it was like traveling from one part to another. After they had fought war, visa regime became a monster. The reason for the 1965 war was in fact a failure of a dialogue. As Z. A. Bhutto said: the failure of the dialogue reinforced Pakistani suspicions that the dialogue process was only a means to continuing the stalemate in India's favour. On the other hand, there is an Indian suspicion that Pakistan is not interested in a dialogue. Fifty years ago, the problem of Kashmir should have been sorted out by a dialogue. In the normal process, the unresolved part would not have remained unresolved because by the terms of the partition, every part of the subcontinent had to commit to one side or the other. There was no third option given. So within the space of six months, a dialogue process would have sorted out the Kashmir problem. We are still arguing whether we want the option of a dialogue or whether we want the option of military solution. Let's see, what the price of failure has been. Each time the peace or dialogue process has failed, the cost was paid by the people in terms of economic cost of war and social cost. 1965 war was followed by another war in 1971 and then we had the arrival of hidden war, the camouflaged war. The last year's cold war shook people from their senses to a degree with which the real war never shook. You can win the election on Kargil but you can actually sweep the election on peace. The child Noor became the future of the two countries. Nobody should question the sincerity of the Indian Prime Minister. I suggest that we remove certain words out of the lexicon. The first word to get out of the way is 'summits', which have been going on for fifty years. Let's recognise the fact that neither country has enough oxygen for a summit. We should change the language and turn it into a forward movement. Each step you take into a forward movement can be greeted as some form of success but each failure in a summit means a very serious injury. This is the time to consider whether the sound that we are hearing today is a sound of door being shut or a door being opened.

Dr. Hameeda Khuro Historian

This conference is only a dialogue about dialogue and everybody is suggesting the ways forward. We should take one step at a time and should understand each other's position on specific point before we can proceed to

some other points. The demand, which should be made through this forum is that communication channels need to be opened. Let's get each other's newspapers and let's ease visas so that we can meet each other. Let our media and TV be free for each other. Fifteen and twenty years ago, there was a complete lack of understanding between the two countries. This started opening up when the first video film came here and suddenly a change took place not among the intellectuals but also among the common people. Then this avenue for understanding got a further boost with the coming of television channels. If you want to strengthen democracy then communication shows the way.

Ram Jethmalani MP, Independent

We have been fighting with each other for the last fifty years and in this conflict, we not only inflicted damage to each other but also to our people. We both waste our resources on weapons and war. If we can spend ten years in peace then both the countries will emerge as big powers. Why are we losing this opportunity for having a bright future? General Musharraf announced that Pakistan will curb terrorism. It is the height of statesmanship as he recognised the need of the hour to go on the road of peace and cooperation. Prime Minister Vajpayee delivered a wonderful speech in Srinagar, which received a lot of appreciation in Pakistan. We will have to melt this iron wall of enmity between the two countries with love. It is of no worth to fight over words while describing Kashmir as a core issue or not. Either you call it primary problem, important problem or one of the problems but it is a problem, which cannot be ignored. I think, it is a simple problem but our politicians have made it complicated. The ego of the governments or the people who are in power, is what has made this problem intractable; otherwise it is very easy to solve it. But this problem will be solved neither by politicians nor by bureaucrats. Ultimately, it is the track-III diplomacy which will solve this problem and through this we will force our governments to accept a solution; otherwise we will threaten to fight against them. The same should be done in Pakistan as well. We will announce in India that both sides have become wiser than they were before we met and now it is the time when we can really resolve our problems. Do not waste your resources on useless strife, which has got to go. 32

Let's start living peacefully and resolve Kashmir and other problems.

create counter-forces like trade and commerce to overcome the forces of hatred. We are looking to the diplomats, generals and politicians but the real power to solve the problem lies with the people of the two countries.

Abid Hasan Minto Senior Constitutional Lawyer

Pakistan's working people never favoured war and they always craved for peace. It is our governments which vitiate the atmosphere for their vested interests. Pakistani and Indian people are only concerned about peace, their livelihood, and a better way of life. Today, we are considered poor and backward and the conflict between Pakistan and India is one of its reasons. The securitystate puts unnecessary burden of weapons, army and defence budget on the poor masses, which impedes democracy. I do not hope that our establishments in near future are going to take any decision. But we should not follow the governments. We should decide that we will not be the part of conflicts. We should decide that we will negotiate under the auspices of our political parties about the conflicts and media will not be an instrument of this war phobia and conflict but it will try to take the people out of it.

Abid Hussein Senior Diplomat

We are not in any position to solve the issue of Kashmir through dialogue, despite all the best efforts. Then the question arises as to what is the alternative to a dialogue? Neither India nor Pakistan can really claim that they will be able to resolve this particular issue with the help of arms. The need that we will be able to achieve anything very meaningful and very fast is perhaps not yet felt. The Northern Ireland and England do have a problem, which is still unresolved but they have good relations in terms of development. There is a conflict between China and Taiwan and yet they have said that we can wait for history to resolve it. There is no reason as to why India and Pakistan cannot 33

S. Nihal Singh Senior Editor

There is a general feeling about a distinct improvement in recent times in the atmosphere between the two countries and recognition of the fact that we have to get together to solve our problems. There exists a dialogue process between the two countries and there are different interpretations of that dialogue process as to whether it is composite or integrated. India has always been raising the question as to whether there is a conducive atmosphere but we should not wait for too long for that atmosphere to develop. There has to be some kind of atmosphere before a fruitful dialogue can take place. We should not place too many conditions before starting a dialogue. There is all the greater need for the two countries to sit down to solve their problems, otherwise both of them will have to bear the collective cost of the confrontation, which can take many forms. I do not think that anybody expects quick results in terms of solutions to such questions as Kashmir, which is described as the core issue by Pakistanis and an important issue by the Indian side. There are also differences as to how quickly we should get to it. I think there is an overall tendency to grant Kashmir an important status in future talks.

Behind the doors Being watched?

Ishaq Khakwani, MNA, PML-Q and Vice President of PML-Q, Mr. Kabir Wasti, who also headed All Parties Reception Committee fo the conference

About

confidence-building By S. Nihal Singh

ndo-Pak problems are more than half a century old, but when SAFMA organised the gathering of parliamentarians and media persons of the two countries in August there were, as usual, public postures and private thoughts. No one said a truer word than India's Vinod Kumar Sharma in suggesting that SAFMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution had been to take the issues of contention from the seminar circuit into the public domain. Under the astute chairmanship of Pakistan's Imtiaz Alam, we met in closeddoor sessions on August 11 to debate questions of war and peace. There was, of course, the familiar laundry list the two countries' baggage of history, the core issue of Kashmir, the irritations (and worse) created by bureaucracies, the vested interests that had

Whispering 35

developed in the power structures and the plight of the common man, routinely disregarded by both. Yet, out of this familiar thicket, there were flashes of light and understanding and, above all, a desire to begin a new journey. The all-important question was: How? Here again many trod familiar ground, but some participants' contributions were noteworthy. Pakistan's I.A.Rehman sought an agreement on a holistic approach to peaceful relations, a dialogue and not avoiding any issue. For India's Dinesh Trivedi peace was knocking at the door. Pakistan's Senator Muhammad Ali Durani sought peace for security cataloguing three hurdles: Kashmir, underdeveloped societies breeding religious and nationalist extremism and water disputes. "Let us", he said, "stop the blame game - the foreign hand syndrome". For India's Badal Akali Dal, the road to nirvana was simple: abolish visas. A Pakistani columnist's contribution took a poetic turn. He said: "Let us catch the fair wind and sail into the future". He classed himself as an optimist, the issue for him being the translation of the upsurge for peace in the subcontinent from the elite to the decision-makers. For Kanwer Khalid Younus of Pakistan, Kashmir was important, but there were other important issues such as the activities of certain religious groups in India that had alarmed him. He asked, "What are Indian MPs doing about it while our government is trying to control religious extremist groups?" India's Margaret Alva was concerned about putting confidence-building measures in place: youth exchanges, transport links, use of each other's medical facilities, encouraging trade and commerce and greater contact among women, the peace-makers. But a Pakistan participant's retort was: "When India talked about cultural exchanges, we think India wants to take over". Pakistan's former National Assembly Speaker Hamid Nasir Chatta was equally blunt. He declared: "We are talking about confidence-building measures. We cannot even play cricket at a neutral venue". For Senator Farhatullah Babar, salvation lies in a three-pronged approach: India and Pakistan must move beyond their publicly stated positions on Kashmir; tap scope for progress in other areas such as people-to-people contacts, trade, a liberal visa regime and creation of a fund for treatment of ailing children. To which an Indian representative had a simple reply, "Come

Contemplating see India". For Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Naseer Akhtar, the nuclear issue should be tackled even before the Kashmir problem, fuelled in his view by the international arms lobby. "Let us jettison the historical baggage. We must interact". Pakistan's M.P Bhandara gave the sober message that no government in Pakistan would survive acceptance of the Line of Control as the international border, but he, for one, was against the division of Kashmir on religious lines. In India's Mani Shankar Aiyar's view, an Indo-Pak dialogue should not be segmented. He was for an intra-sectoral, rather than an inter-sectoral, exercise, leaving it to each side to determine how Kashmir should be discussed. But for Surendra Arora, associated with the BJP, the future lies in a sustained dialogue over a long period. Patience was his watchword: Keep Kashmir aside and build relationships in other spheres. In the view of Pakistan's Sherry Rehman, it was important to create a constituency for peace. Kashmir was a core as well as an emotional issue. Her PPP was keen to replace the jehadi structure with peace but required a stable border to accomplish it. For Pakistan's Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad Duranni, peace was a process in which priorities got determined as the two sides proceeded. Imposing conditionalities, such as end to terrorism, was unrealistic. He said it was first a question of political will whose threshold was very low; building confidence came much later. But India's Saleem Iqbal Shervani discovered a change in

Pakistani people. He was for performing "bypass surgery" on Kashmir. India's Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi partly agreed with his Pakistani counterpart in suggesting that the process of a dialogue started with a will to do so. But he asserted that cross-border infiltration was a major issue between the two countries. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Satish Nambiar of India warned that the old trodden path would lead nowhere, suggesting that Pakistan harboured misconceptions on what was happening in Kashmir. For Pakistan's Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood, the people of the two countries were forcing a change on their leaderships. The people were tired and there was no military solution to Kashmir after the nuclearisation of the subcontinent and the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. He sought a conducive atmosphere, warning that the leaderships did not trust each other. India's M.J.Akbar pleaded for removing words such as "summits" and "forward movement" from the political lexicon, pointing to the human cost 150 million Indian Muslims were paying, thanks to the state of relations between India and Pakistan. It was left to India's Ram Jethmalani to praise General Pervez Musharraf. He said: "In 10 years, if we can love each other, we'll be great". This is by no means an exhaustive catalogue of speakers or their proposals. Rather, it is an account of some significant contributions and the mood of a rather representative gathering of the parliamentary and media elite of the two countries.

Maulana Fazalur Rehman, MNA and Amin Fahim, PPP-P sharing great interest in proceedings

Dinesh Trivedi MP , All India Trinamool Congress

I.A.Rehman Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

If we continue talking about conflicts and do not address the need to bring together what is positive among our people then the peace process means little for South Asia and its people. Putting our resources together is more important than dealing with ticklish issues and conflicts. In fact the more we will learn about each other, the better we will be able to resolve the conflicts. At the same time, let's not forget that we belong to the privileged part of the population of the subcontinent. There is a conspiracy between the governments of the region that they will not extend the privileges, facilities and concessions enjoyed by the privileged to the ordinary citizens. They will not make rail traffic easier so that people can join their divided families, they will not improve their postal services, though they can establish hot lines between military officers. We must include in our deliberations and efforts specific measures and activities designed to enable the common citizens of India and Pakistan to feel that they are equally entitled to have those doors opened, which are reserved for the privileged now. It is also necessary that we deprive the states of the monopoly on their lives. The states have their compulsions, and their bureaucracies have their own ways of denying the people the fruits of freedom and labour. We must open the possibilities for political parties so that they shouldn't only be concerned with capturing power but their agenda must include what is dearest to the people of subcontinent. I believe, they must bring trade unions into their ranks and must pay attention to the very vibrant women movement in both the countries. Let's listen to what women have to say. We have to approach the issues in the holistic manner. It does not mean only that we attempt all issues together, it also means that all issues are addressed by all people together.

We must build up a congenial atmosphere and media has now felt the need to promote peace. So rather than the politicians and bureaucrats, the media has taken the initiative and has become the interested party. It can ensure that whether we are in politics or in bureaucracy, we will not rest in peace till the time we achieve peace. The world at large is interested in supplying arms and in conflict. We do not realise that we cannot talk about prosperity without talking about peace as they are inter-related. The next conflict is going to be about economy, gas and water issues. Both of our countries are primarily agricultural and we know in villages that the fight is over water. People want water for their fields and survival. In a world operating in trade blocks like ASEAN and European Union, our future lies in SAARC. There is no point in easing visa restrictions and opening boundaries until there is a free flow of goods and services. We must break away some psychological barriers.

Senator Muhammad Ali Durani General Secretary MP

Our objective should be peace for prosperity. Why we are not achieving that target is because we have not prepared our people for that.Both in India and Pakistan, intellectuals, politicians, civil society activists and the common man want peace. We should give the common man something so that he can feel involved in the process of peace and that can lead to prosperity. The first obstacle in the process of peace is Kashmir issue, the second obstacle is the under developed state of our societies. Religious extremism is playing a role in our societies and also between the two countries to keep us apart. But at the same time, we observe national extremism that is also playing a negative role. Then there comes the water

dispute, which has the potential of destabilising the relations in future. Next obstacle are groups with vested interests; they are religious, political and economic groups. In the light of these obstacles, there are perceived threats of conventional military build up, ongoing arms race, nuclear and missile threat. Economic concerns and cultural invasion are two other threats on both sides of the divide. As far as the Line of Control is concerned, we can involve SAARC in its monitoring. We should also invite the organisation to play some role in the resolution of the issues outstanding between the two countries.

Sardar Zora Singh Mann MP, Shiromani Akali Dal

How to establish good relation between the two countries is an important issue. We should open trade between both states as economically, it will benefit both the countries where goods are imported through sea. Trade can play a crucial role in developing interaction between both the countries. All borders like Wahgah and Suleman should be opened to promote trade. Visa restriction should be eased to facilitate people. Another important point is education. We spend money on atoms and missiles, if that money will be spent on education then our future generation will have a broader perspective. We should pay attention toward unemployment and education. Our cultural traditions especially of Punjab are related with Pakistan. If visa policy will be eased then we can visit the shrines of Nankana Sahib and Punja Sahib. We should together move towards progress.

Prabash Joshi Columnist

Delivering a lecture and moving emotions is not what we need by way of building confidence among us because we have too much of it. We will never be able to get down to those things which divide us, unless we understand them also. Extending and promoting friendship and oneness is good but it is not enough to solve the problem. We will be doing the same thing for the whole of next century if we do not create an understanding of the issues we are facing.

Irshad Ahmed Haqqani Senior Editor

Prime Minister Vajpayee's speech of 18th April has generated an upsurge in South Asia for peace, friendship, negotiations and for resolving differences. This spontaneous upsurge is not baseless. Awareness about a century's blunders and realisation of the need of time is the motivating force behind this. Both Indians and Pakistanis here are repenting on the loss of time and opportunity for peace that has resulted in the backwardness and undeveloped state of both the countries. Now we should compensate this loss and efforts should be made to strengthen this realisation on both sides. If this realisation and desire for having peace is not transferred from intellectuals, politicians and journalists up to the level of ruling elite which is supposed to take decisions, then these confidence-building measures will not be of much to us.

Kanwer Khalid Younis MNA, MQM

Kashmir is an important issue but there are some other important issues to be discussed. One of them is the rights and plight of religious minorities. The rise of communalism in India is alarming, so is the spread of religious fundamentalism in Pakistan. If religious extremism is not tackled, then these extremists will not be content even after having their way into Kashmir. There is another issue of visa. The people who live in Karachi have their relatives in 350 districts of India. But the only border point open between India and Pakistan is Wahgah. Hopefully, when our relations become stronger then new points will also open. After 20/30 years, both India and Pakistan will need some more agreements on water projects. Why cannot we have some understanding and communication on the type of water system we require? Both the countries should sit together to find out ways so that the river system remains beneficial for both states for another hundred years. 38

Kashmala Tariq MNA, PML-Q

Smt. Margaret Alva MP, INC

We have to distinguish between conflictresolution and conflict-management. Conflict-resolution should be left to the experts and to groups on both sides, who can deal with the nitty-gritty. There are two issues between India and Pakistan: Kashmir and cross-border terrorism. These are the two issues, which need to be looked at separately. People-to-people contacts should be improved. As the people get to know each other better, there are more opportunities to exchange your views. Confidence building will automatically take place and there will be less suspicion and less fear of each other. There are some areas; where cooperation is possible given the present situation between the two countries, like exchange of youth and students. Then come sports contacts, which are very important. Second is the whole question of transport. We have opened the bus route but railways and air links need to be restored, so that people can move more freely across the borders. The third part is religious pilgrimages. The fourth is the question of medical facilities and treatment to be opened to both countries. We have the example of Noor, a child of the subcontinent. Nobody looked at her as being a Pakistani or Hindu or Muslim. Next is the question of trade and commerce and, ultimately, it is commerce that makes the world go around. Agriculture is another subject, which we can talk about. The fifth one is media and communication channels. Why are you blocking the Indian TV channels when Pakistani channels are watched in India? The last is contact between women of the two countries. The women of the subcontinent need to increase their contacts. Let's find answers rather than always talk about the problems. Pandit Nehru said â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not want you to be the part of problem, I want you to be the part of the solutionâ&#x20AC;? and that is what we have to talk about.

We have to address the core issue and that is Kashmir. When we say that we can leave behind that issue and can go to addressing cross-border terrorism, we are just scratching the surface again and again. It is time to decide whether we want a solution or not. We cannot ignore to promote our trade relationship as WTO is approaching and leave other issues for the time being. We have to take all the issues as a package and address them simultaneously. We have to bring a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. This issue can be solved if we would follow these four steps. Firstly, we must decide if Kashmir issue should be discussed or not. Secondly, we have to negotiate if we want a solution. At the third step, we should bring proposals from both sides. Then we will have to short list those proposals. If we decide to resolve the issue then we can reach at some concrete and final point.

Vinod Kumar Sharma Senior Journalist

The most significant aspect of this interaction is that no political party is speaking on behalf of government. In recent years, the mindsets politicians have created on either side of the border are not really helpful in resolving matters. Now the participation by political parties across the political spectrum is a happy gesture. It is a milestone which we have achieved. We have created an element of curiosity at the mass level by arranging this conference and when people ask questions, the answers can be sorted out.

Mrs. N. P. Durga MP, TDP

Hamid Nasir Chatta, MNA, President PML-J

There is no doubt about the need of good relations between India and Pakistan. We are neighbours and should have good relations. There is no conflict more dangerous than the conflict between two neighbours because they are so close to each other that anything can happen at any time. There is the human issue like the divided families. There is economic issue like trade but the most important of all is top-heavy defence expenditure, which both the countries are incurring and which they can least afford. If these resources can be used to improve the quality of life of the people, imagine the progress we will make in five years. Confidence-building measures are easy to talk about. We have had cultural, sporting and trade relations in the past but what is the result today. Trade is stopped and we cannot even play a game of cricket on a neutral venue. Unless all the issues are addressed simultaneously, the confidence-building measures will end up in the same way as they had in the past. The core issues between India and Pakistan are not of the nature which can be resolved over night. It will take a lot of effort, thinking, and sacrifice on both sides in order to achieve result on major issues. There are issues like Kashmir, cross-border terrorism, water issue, and the communal problem, but all these issues have to be addressed seriously along the confidence-building measures so that peace process is not derailed. If the people of both the countries feel that their governments are sincerely making an effort to resolve the core issue, the confidence-building measures will go on improving. Nothing is going to work unless both sides work sincerely to resolve the major issues simultaneously, while taking confidence-building measures.

People to people contacts and exchange of delegations are necessary. Both the countries do not have an extradition treaty between them. Prime Minister Vajpayee has already made this proposal to President Musharraf. In order to understand each other, sports can play a very pivotal role, so both the governments should allow cricket and hockey matches. It is very unfortunate that the Pakistan government has banned all the Indian TV channels. This is one area through which we can have a better understanding of the people. Economic relations are crucial for smooth relations between the two countries. We must start South Asian Free Trade Area. If we can resume our Delhi-Lahore bus service, why cannot we restore our air and rail links?

Dr. Salman Shah, Economist

We need to compare South Asia with East Asia because fifty-five years ago both the regions started from the same kind of baseline and, perhaps, South Asia had better basics than East Asia. Today, East Asia has the per capita income in access of thousand dollars compared to South Asia per capita income of 450 dollars. Too much of this lost opportunity was due to the poor economic policies but a great deal of this was due to the belligerence of the last fifty-five years. Most of this lost opportunity was due to the state of affairs between India and Pakistan. But the loss of environment for development translates it into hundreds of billions of dollars in Pakistan alone. The total loss is around 600 billion dollars and, at least, half of this is due to poor environment in this country. If in South Asia we had treated tourism as a business, in five years we could have generated around 25 billion dollars of economic activity just because of tourism. It is time that we look at these issues from an economic point of view, 40

which helps to make an environment in which we can discuss our political issues as well. We should be able to drive from Lahore to Delhi and you to Lahore. Secondly, if we look at the volume of trade the ASEAN countries are doing among themselves, it is ten percent of their GDP. India and Pakistan do trade among themselves, which is less than half a percent of their GDP. If we reach the ASEAN level, we will be talking about 60 billion dollar of trade in South Asia alone. This economic activity has the potential of changing the lives of people in this region. Trade has impacts, which will help our economies to become more efficient. The benefit of better competitiveness in South Asia will help the entire region to grow much faster. Mutual reduction of forces, by say 30 percent after five and ten years can save billions dollars for human development. That is where we need to invest. We have to have a growth rate of ten percent plus and it is achievable if we are able to settle our problems.

Shri Krishnaswamy MP, Smata Party

Everybody talks about peace but India and Pakistan are fighting over a piece of Jammu & Kashmir land. To develop friendly relationship and goodwill with Pakistan, the hospitals of India are very much interested in providing medical treatment to the Pakistani children. Both the countries are facing poverty where a large sum of money is being spent on defence. We should spend that money on development and for the welfare of the poor and weak sections of society. Both the countries do not trust each other. They should prepare a draft to get suggestions from political parties. If we want to build confidence, we will have to negotiate and we should welcome cultural exchanges. We should exchange our technology, electricity, and allow trade.

Saiyidul Saiyidain Naqvi Senior Columnist

As we now have an explosion of media on the one hand, we have government or stateowned media in both the countries on the other hand. We have an almost anarchic exuberant growth of private electronic media. But there is something missing in both the countries and that is public service television. A market driven television picks 41

up the most exciting news story and blows it out of all proportion to serve its purposes. Let's institutionalise a programme to have a public service TV. Money will come from the market. There is a lot of enthusiasm on both sides of the border to find out what is happening. We can have interactive programmes, but it is only possible when there will be a complete explosion of media in the subcontinent.

Senator Farhatullah Babar, PPP-P

I would like to focus on confidence-building measures and conflict-resolution in two areas: one is Kashmir and the other is nuclear. Kashmir has been at the center of the dispute between Pakistan and India, which has led us to three wars and the induction of nuclear capability in the two countries. It has added to the urgency of resolving the issues. The danger of a nuclear conflict has increased and we must address it by suggesting some measures. First, both countries must categorically announce that they will not flaunt nuclear weapons. Second, the two countries should take unilateral and bilateral measures to reduce the nuclear risk factor. The important unilateral measure that Pakistan can take is to transfer commands and control structure of the nuclear weapons to the civilian government. The bilateral measure, which India and Pakistan can take, is on the nuclear risk reduction by setting up nuclear risk reduction centers, which can ensure how an accidental and pre-emptive nuclear strike can be averted. If the nuclear weapons in the two countries are in an assembled state and they are on the delivery systems, then the time factor between the decisions to launch a nuclear weapon and to actually launch is very short. Nuclear risk reduction centers can examine the possibility of keeping the nuclear weapons in an unassembled form. In the structure of relations between India and Pakistan, Kashmir occupies a central position. Neither has war nor have the United Nation's resolutions helped in resolving the dispute. Both the countries must declare that they are prepared to move beyond their respective publically stated positions. It will

open the door for the dialogue. The two sides should recognise that while they keep their respective positions on Kashmir, there is scope for forward movement in other areas like people to people contacts, trade and relaxation of visa regimes. Relations between India and Pakistan shouldn't be held hostage to the single issue of Kashmir. How about setting up a fund between India and Pakistan, which will take care of the sick children from both the countries, who are too poor to undergo advance medical treatment? Pakistan should declare that it is against foreign militancy in Kashmir. We also advocate soft borders so that people can move freely. Another confidence-building measure can be to improve the communication channels between the two countries. We presently have hotlines between the DG's of military operation. Why not to have a hotline between the political leaders and probably also between the parliamentarians of the two countries. The government of Pakistan should reiterate its commitment to Simla agreement and Lahore Declaration. What has been lacking is a monitoring and implementing agency of what has already been publicly committed by the political leaders of the two countries. I would ask both the countries to consider the possibility of setting up a South Asian Monitoring Agency with the sole job to monitor and consider the possibility of implementing commitments publicly made by the leaders of the two countries.

Senator Illiyas Ahmed Bilour ANP

The need is to remove all biases and malice from the hearts to develop a trading block in South Asia and to adopt Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan and Gandhi's philosophy of â&#x20AC;&#x153;non-violenceâ&#x20AC;?. Prime Minister Vajpayee's speech in Srinagar and then the statement of Prime Minister Jamali in his response encouraged the business community to visit India resulting in different agreements. Still today our official trade is of 200 million dollars and unofficial one is of another 200 million dollar mainly being done through a third country. Free trade between both the countries will benefit the poor because this will enable them to get commodities on cheaper rates, instead of continuing to facilitate multi-national companies.

Abani Roy MP, RSP

We are talking about the Line of Control but we are not taking care of the line of poverty. People of both the countries want peace for prosperity and progress because without peace, there will be no prosperity. We, the parliamentarians who are fighting for the poor people should be able to unite the people because we have come here to build up unity among masses toiling under poverty.

I wish that trade barriers are removed and the monopoly of multinational companies is diminished through the revival of trade and business relations between India and Pakistan. Lifting of barriers between both the countries will bring competitiveness in the market. Pakistan is much developed in cotton sector, which could facilitate India in export. SAARC has not become a trading block due to the main players- India and Pakistan.

Behind the doors

Dreaming valley in the company of most beautiful?

Ram Nath Kovind MP, BJP

dialogue. Hostility between India and Pakistan has dangerously fuelled religious fundamentalism and national chauvinism leading to extremism which should be corrected. It can only be done with the improvement of relations between the two countries.

We can change friends but we can never change our neighbours. While talking on Kashmir, we cannot ignore cross-border terrorism. Those who advocate the cause of humanity must realise that terrorism is the greatest crime against humanity.

With a view to create a conducive environment for dialogue, Pakistan had made a quantum jump by agreeing to check cross-border movement. Both India and Pakistan have become aware of the fact that it is in the interest of the international arms lobby to keep the dispute alive.

We cannot say that humanity is only for Muslim community. We must not speak with double standards. What we need today is to think about the to cross-border terrorism. We have to choose between our emotions and wisdom.

They will be wise if they do not spend money on arms that can be spent on development. The mindset of the people needs a change. Before dialogue is resumed, a close interaction between the political leaderships of both the countries should take place. This was lacking when the Agra Summit was held.

Every political party of India is supportive to the peace initiative taken by Prime Minister Vajpayee. When we talk about Kashmir then it makes sense if we talk about the whole Kashmir and not one part of it. Terrorism is terrorism whether it is in Indian territory or Pakistan territory. We have to condemn it and discourage it.

We cannot achieve anything without mutual confidence. We could find a system to patrolling the LoC by independent organisations. Similarly, the understanding on de-militarisation of Siachin glacier should be implemented. The people of Kashmir are suffering at the hands of law enforcing agencies.

There is a myth that Kashmiris want an independent Kashmir. But in the last elections everybody participated in a democratic process. A conducive atmosphere is the basic thing for sitting together. It is the obligation of the parliamentarians on both sides to create an atmosphere of goodwill, peace and harmony. We must involve more people like trade unionists, advocates and doctors etc, who can certainly help in the process of creating a positive atmosphere.

This human rights issue needs to be addressed to enable the people to find out the solutions. We should also cease the overt and covert propaganda and media campaign against each other. We must realise the need to reduce tension as far as nuclear arsenal is concerned and eliminate the risk of nuclear war. Nuclear issues should be tackled before the Kashmir issue is resolved.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Naseer Akhtar Since late 1989 Kashmir problem has become linked to the larger question of war and peace in South Asia. The freedom movement among the Kashmiri Muslims in the valley and Srinagar created a serious crisis but India and Pakistan have not handled it carefully then nuclear war could start accidentally. Kashmir issue should be resolved through a genuine and purposeful

There should be an exchange programme between the senior military officers of the two countries, which will help in improving the relationship and overcoming the misgivings. The dialogue experience has not been very constructive in the past. It was due to the absence of the track-II and the public opinion was not built so that governments could take decision. Therefore, the track-II should continue to build public opinion.

Sherry Rehman MNA, PPP-P

Dileep Padgaonkar Executive Editor, The Times of India

The gravity of the Kashmir problem should not be undermined by anybody. For the last fifty years, efforts have been made to address the issue and have failed to resolve it. As far as Kashmir is concerned, all kinds of strategies, wars, suppression and internationalisation of the issue have been adopted and they do not seem to have worked. There is a feeling among the Kashmiris that they want peace but with honour and dignity. This is one of the reasons why Kashmir committee has worked to see whether something can be done to initiate a process whereby Kashmiris are able to engage in a dialogue at various levels among themselves; between Kashmiris in the two countries, between the separate groups in Srinagar and in Delhi, etc. Whenever Kashmir is discussed, the focus is primarily on the Valley. When we say Kashmir then it means the whole Kashmir. APHC has agreed that when discussions do begin, all sides will have to rise above their traditional positions and abandon the extremist stands. We must move forward on the basis of this framework. A certain number of developments could derail this process before even the dialogue has started. One such possible danger is that if there is another major terrorist attack in India this would be good enough reason to stop the dialogue. Once people start meeting across the border it would invite greater trade and understanding. Once the government of Pakistan lifts the ban on the Indian channels, there will be a greater hope of Pakistani people being able to understand the Indians in a better way.

Pakistan People's Party has always stood for developing cordial and warm relations with India for establishing a peace process that favours just and honourable solutions to all outstanding issues. We should start by trying to sort out the visa restriction, cultural and trade agreements. The visa facility has been agreed upon in 1989 at the SAARC Conference. To sustain the peace process and to dismantle terrorism, we should be looking at two principles. One of them is the principle of reciprocity. If Pakistan is asked to support India in dismantling terrorism then Pakistan is to ask for demilitarisation of the valley. We can talk about joint patrolling. The peace process needs to be taken as an end in itself. Uninterruptibility is very important for this process. I urge people to consider placing verification and monitoring mechanism. A South Asian Monitoring mechanism is essential for the monitoring of all the CBM's between India and Pakistan.

M. P. Bhandara MNA, PML-Q

No state can ever have any luck with terrorists. Indian parliamentarians should help Pakistan in finding out as to how we can satisfy India's concern on so-called cross-border terrorism. In this regard, you have the Jack Straw proposal like helicopter surveillance, which was rejected by New Delhi. There have been several proposals on electronic fencing but certain parts of LoC are immune to modern electronic fencing. There should be patrolling on both sides.

The concerned authorities of India and Pakistan should get together to take steps to put an end to cross-border terrorism because this is indeed the policy of government of Pakistan. Pakistan should appreciate that no further division is possible in J&K on any communal basis. India must appreciate that no government in Islamabad can survive the acceptance of LoC as an international border. Pakistan must appreciate that there are less Kashmiris but there are hundred and fifty million Muslims in India so whatever we do we should take it into account that the interests of the Kashmiris are not only protected but also what likely impact it is going to have on Muslims in India. Pakistan should make its policies less Kashmir centered. My favoured solution is the one already applied in Endora, which was a controversial issue between France and Spain. Article 370 can lead to the blurring of borders and it should lead to some sort of independence for the Valley.

Talib Hussain MP, National Conference

Is there any role for the poor Kashmiris in this changing scenario? There is a need to structure this dialogue in such a way that it carries on uninterruptedly and becomes uninterruptible. First at the level of parliamentarians, then negotiations should begin to reach the level of summit. There should be talks about talks first.

Prem Shankar Jha Columnist

political situation and economic resources in Kashmir is also changing and the nature of options that India and Pakistan have, for bringing about a good and satisfactory peace in the entire subcontinent.

Aman Ullah Khan Chairman JKLF

We used weapons to raise this issue of Kashmir, which was previously ignored and misused afterwards. Kashmir is neither a part of India nor a part of Pakistan. The rights of Kashmiris have been accepted by the leaders of India, Pakistan and the international community. If both the countries fulfill their promise, the problem of Kashmir can be solved. We are neither the enemies of state of India nor of Pakistan. We started fighting to give a new life to the Kashmir cause but not to kill people. India and Pakistan made this issue a national ego problem, which they should have avoided. It should not disturb the national security of both the states and their legitimate interests. Both the countries have never solved any issue. Only third party mediation can solve this issue, but not necessarily America. Let there be one friend each from India and Pakistan and one well wisher of Kashmiris to give them equal presentation. Unless the solution is based on the unfettered will of Kashmiris it will not last. The solution is to re-unite Kashmir and to make it an independent state with a democratic system of government. It should be federal with five provinces and secular as well guaranteeing equal rights to non-Muslims. The independent Kashmir should develop good relations with both India and Pakistan.

I favour opening up Kashmir in stages, of course. Then tourism and trade should eventually come to play their role with the full implementation of SAFTA. In all the discourses, what is being missed out is that Kashmir has its life of its own. Kashmiris have their own aspirations. The nature of 46

Seema Mustafa

Abdul Hayye Baloch

Political Editor, Asian Age

President BNM

Both countries have suffered a lot when they decided to undertake nuclear explosions. India lost its conventional military advantage. We were placed under sanctions which have taken their toll. Both the countries did not earn the respect they initially wanted as nuclear states. When we had our armies facing each other across the Line of Control, we did not have any well defined command and control structure. There was a threat of jihadi takeover of Pakistan's nuclear programme but that was the propaganda coming out not from New Delhi but from Washington. There was no communication mechanism at any level. Any single gesture and misunderstanding could have resulted in a nuclear mishap.

Both the countries should resolve all disputes, including Kashmir, in a peaceful manner. When India and China, despite having a border dispute, can move forward to cooperate in various fields then why cannot India and Pakistan discover a peaceful way? We can mobilise different forums like those of journalists, lawyers and doctors. We have wasted our resources on wars that could have been spent on development. Now there is an environment in which all political parties in Pakistan support peace and believe in resolving all issues with the neighbouring country through negotiation.

It is the responsibility of the parliamentarians and the media to ensure that both governments as a pre-requisite establish a communication network which is not suspended under any provocation. When we talk about Kashmir then the question arises as to what we are going to discuss on the issue. I see human rights violation in Kashmir and same in Gujrat. I feel lack of development in Jammu & Kashmir but the same is true in UP and Bihar. I respect Kashmeiriat which has kept Jammu & Kashmir together. The level of secularism in Kashmir has to be seen, appreciated and understood. There are other linkages between India and Kashmir despite their alienation. There is fifty six years of association. When it decided to become the part of India, it strengthened the forces in New Delhi at that time and they were able to ward off the communal forces. Any move to take the valley away will weaken secularism in India. We have committed human rights violations and we are playing with article 370 every single day in Kashmir. The solution to Kashmir at one level lies within India if there is a political change and a change in our mindset towards Jammu & Kashmir then we can be able to bring development to the region and ensure free and fair elections. If we have joint patrolling of LoC we will be able to settle that matter to some level and be able to take the peace process forward. Peace is not just that you get Kashmir and we put an end to cross-border terrorism. It has also to do with people-topeople relations with open borders and all the CBM's.

A leading BJP MP from Rajisthan

Waiving the peace file 48

Closing ceremony Presidium : (Left to Right) Saiyidul Saiyidain Naqvi, senior columnist, Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, senior editor, Vinod Kumar Sharma, Vice President SAFMA India, K.K. Katyal, President SAFMA India, Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Imtiaz Alam, General Secretary SAFMA, Reazuddin Ahmed, President SAFMA and M. Ziauddin President SAFMA Pakistan 49

welcome. The task of this conference had been made easier by the exchanges of visits by selected groups of parliamentarians and businessmen earlier on both sides. I am glad that you chose the theme of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Understanding, Confidence-building and Conflict-resolutionâ&#x20AC;?. You will find an echo of this theme in our policy pronouncements. If we want to resolve problems in South Asia, we should not be just focused on crisis and conflict management, but we should take concrete steps for conflict resolution. For that, clear understanding credible, and doable confidence-building measures are essential pre-requisites. The people of this region have a vision, of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia where we accept each other as sovereign in our Foreign Minister Khurshied Mehmood Kasuri addressing the Concluding Session quest for peace and prosperity. The Government and the people of Pakistan, sharing the above vision, would like to join hands with their brethren from other countries of South Asia in the achievement of their dreams. We in Pakistan have no other desire or intention than to live in peace and harmony with all our neighbours.

SAFMA

builds bridges I

t is a great pleasure for me to address the concluding session of the Conference of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) in Islamabad. Our government has always encouraged free media in Pakistan and we have created an environment in which the media can work with complete independence. That is why, our media is so independent and vibrant today. The SAFMA Conference has been convened at a crucial moment in the history of South Asia. A process of engagement has been initiated by the leaderships of Pakistan and India. The atmosphere is imbued with expectation and hope. The question on everybody's mind is: Will India and Pakistan seize the moment and move towards peace or not? It is in this context that the participation of distinguished parliamentarians, journalists and opinion makers of diverse persuasions and affiliations in the SAFMA Conference is

We seek resolution of all outstanding issues including Jammu & Kashmir through a peaceful process of dialogue and constructive engagements. The expansion of people to people links through increased exchanges could play a role in building an environment of understanding and conflict between the two countries. I would like to take this opportunity to speak about the recent attempts to defuse tension between India and Pakistan. Both the countries have taken some reciprocal steps. President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali have responded positively to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's statesmanlike speech of 18th April in Srinagar. We are willing to go the extra mile in order to narrow our differences. It is imperative that we enter into a composite and sustained process and simultaneously move forward on all issues including Kashmir, economic 50

cooperation, cultural exchanges and sporting links etc. To achieve this we would have to encourage interaction at all levels. Trade and economic cooperation cannot grow in a vacuum and less than friendly political environment. We sincerely believe that a peaceful and secure environment in the region is of vital importance for the promotion of meaningful economic cooperation and development. It is with that desire that Pakistan makes a conscious effort to pursue a policy of friendship and quality with all its neighbours. Pakistan has good relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. Improvements of relations with India remain, therefore, a matter of top priority for us. War is not an option between India and Pakistan. The only alternative is to talk on all issues of concern to both the countries including of course Jammu and Kashmir; talk substantively; and talk with a view to achieving results. We should have a sustainable dialogue, uninterrupted and uninterruptible, that would yield a solution.

Islamabad

launching www.southasianmedia.net SAFMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website

Foreign Minister Khurshied Kusuri launches the South Asian Media Net, as Webmaster Abdullah Iqbal and Editor Imtiaz Alam watch

I am glad that High Commissioners of Pakistan and India are once again heading their mission in Delhi and Islamabad respectively. The bus service has been restored. The talks on air links and related issues will be held in Islamabad later this month. We have proposed to India to help resume the Samjhota Express, which is used by the bulk of the Pakistani and India travelers. We have released Indian prisoners as has India some of ours. However, there is an imperative need to initiate a dialogue process immediately. Let us start talking at the level of the Foreign Secretaries. A composite and integrated dialogue is the answer, and it will generate its own momentum and pace for incremental gains. The 8-point agenda for talks was worked out by the foreign secretaries to the 51

two countries in 1997 and 1998. We do not have to reinvent the wheel. This agenda, along with the elements agreed to at Agra-which unfortunately could not be endorsed-can provide the basis for a comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan. The Agra Summit which remains a testimony to the statesmanship of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee could still become a memorable milestone if the progress achieved there is developed into a forward looking approach and built into an agreement regarding the architecture for peace process and dialogue. Regarding Kashmir, President Pervez Musharraf had presented a four-point formula at Agra which shows a lot of flexibility and remains a valid basis for progress on this issue: 1: India and Pakistan recognise Jammu and Kashmir as a dispute; 2: India and Pakistan start a meaningful and sustained dialogue;

3: The two sides begin by negating solutions that all not acceptable to either side. 4: Let all the parties work towards a solution that would be acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, who have the greatest stake in peace; this is because it is clear that for peace to be durable in the subcontinent the aspirations of the people of Kashmir have to be taken into consideration. This is a realistic offer. We can still pick up the pieces and work towards a meaningful dialogue which will address the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the same spirit as mentioned in the two proceeding paragraphs that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has spoken of the need for both sides to show flexibility in his meeting with the Indian Parliamentarians at the Prime Minister's House this afternoon.

At the special session of the SAARC Committee, a consensus was reached on the dates for the 12th SAARC Summit to be held in Pakistan on January 4-6, 2004. We should avail of the opportunity of SAARC Summit in Islamabad to make the organisation an effective instrument for realising the aspirations of our people. Pakistan looks forward to the visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Foreign Minister Yaswant Sinha to Pakistan on that occasion and Indian contribution to making the Summit a success. I feel that the visit of the Indian Parliamentarians and other representatives of the media and public opinion have a positive impact and create the right atmosphere for initiation of sustained dialogue process between the two countries. I could not think since I myself have been involved in track-II diplomacy and attempts to improve relations between Pakistan and India. On the basis of my experience in the past as a track-II person and currently as Foreign Minister of Pakistan, I would suggest that both track-II and track-I have to act in tandem. One could not be substitute for the other. Admittedly track-II efforts can help promote understanding and confidence between our two countries in tackling outstanding issues. The role of organisation like SAFMA would remain important in building bridges of understanding and confidence between the peoples of South Asia. I thank the organisers for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you on the issues of peace, security and development that confront us in South Asia. Many of you have distinguished yourselves in public service, journalism and diplomacy. You have innovative ideas, which can provide a useful guide to the policy formulation process. Our governments have more daunting tasks. We hope that we can convert this moment of opportunity into a sustained initiative of a dialogue process between the two countries for peace based on justice, which will usher in greater prosperity and progress for the people of South Asia.

Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar with Mr. Katyal, Vinod Sharma, Nusrat Javed and Mustansar Javed

Enters Ayaz Amir, senior columnist

Foreign Minister Mr. Kusuri with Ram Vilas Paswan and the family

Mani Shankar Aiyar Sherry Rehman MNA, PPP-P

There is an information deficit about the issues that bedeviled the relations between India and Pakistan. There has been a deficit of a serious discourse and a dialogue. The exchanges of parliamentarians and other delegations can help to start substantive dialogue. It not only brings people closer, but it also puts pressure for the construction of pace and normalisation of relations between the two countries. We are now talking about a composite dialogue but this was an old Bhutto doctrine and we should see the process as an end in itself and not as a means to an end. We can go further with such a process without prejudice to anyone's position. Kashmir is an emotional issue for Pakistanis and it is something, which cannot be put aside. Similarly, the biggest hurdle coming from our neighbour India has officially been the issue of cross-border terrorism. I hope that we will be able to talk without any conditionality about each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerns. If we are talking about stabilising borders, one party cannot be the jury and judge. We have always recommended that the Line of Control be made softer and stable. If our Indian friends have an issue with crossborder terrorism then we can devise monitoring systems. It is time that both sides show flexibility and political will to address this issue. If we keep putting conditionality and refusing to go forward then we are going to find that we will have a roadmap imposed on us like the one imposed in the Middle East and I think that is the fear running through the veins of the Indian leadership. If we are not willing to show flexibility then why are we talking? It is time to solve our problems like mature countries. We need to take confidence-building measures not only on the military side but also on nuclear command and control system and perhaps, we need to have joint commissions.

MP, INC

For having successful India Pakistan dialogue, we should ensure that it is not segmented. When it is segmented, given the traditions of the two civil services, then it becomes extremely difficult to change a position. Also so long as the dialogue is segmented, all the trade offs have to be intra-sectoral whereas successful dialogue requires intersectoral trade off. If you have segmented dialogue on defence between the two defense secretaries, all the give and take has to be within the defence sector. But if you have the non-segmented dialogue then what one side apparently loses, on say defence, can make up for it in another sector, say trade. We should have a composite and an integrated dialogue. So that we are able to discuss a wide range of subjects without waiting for another meeting to take up an issue that has been closed in a previous meeting. Another advantage of this that we will be thus able to address a range of issues without getting caught up with priorities. If you have an integrated dialogue, rather than a segmented one, then the interlocutors could decide in advance what is the subject they wish to take up? Instead of wasting all our time determining whether we discuss Kashmir first and railways links next, we just leave it to each side to determine what the priorities are? Such a process will afford the opportunity for us to protect the dialogue from the outside influences of ups and downs between India and Pakistan. It is not that Pakistan and India have never had a dialogue before, but no dialogue is allowed to persist. Something or the other happens either in Islamabad or in New Delhi to break the dialogue and then it gets resumed again sometimes beginning at exactly the point where we had started previously. Therefore, for a dialogue to be successful, it has to be uninterrupted and uninterruptible. I think the parliamentary traditions in India and Pakistan can offer an opportunity how this could be done. I would suggest that a dialogue when it is structured must be given a zero hour in which Pakistani side arrives and makes all the complaints that it wishes to . And we then use the same zero hour to make all our complaints about current problems of India and Pakistan relations. This would enable both sides to go back to their countries and to say that no national interest is being neglected. After each side has brought up its own complaints, they can go into the structured format.

We could have a situation where in the first round Pakistan discusses Kashmir and India discusses visas and in the second round Pakistan discusses Kashmir and India brings up water, in the third round Pakistan discusses Kashmir and India talks about rail links, in the forth round Pakistan discusses Kashmir and then India brings forward air links. In this way, Pakistan's priority related with Kashmir is never down graded and the Indian side for its part can take up whatever it regards as the key issue. India certainly, since October 1993, when PM Narasima Rao wrote a letter to PM Benazir Bhutto, had committed to discussing all outstanding questions, including issues related to Jammu & Kashmir. I do not think that Indian side anymore has any problem about discussing any aspect of the question of Jammu & Kashmir. It is amazing to see as to how little do the people of India know about the reasons behind J&K being a core issue for Pakistan. Similarly, the people in Pakistan know little as to why J&K is an important issue for India. So if we were to begin with a hundred percent statement of our stated positions then there is the possibility that the other side understands 10 percent of it. People ask what will be the outcome of the dialogue? If I knew what the outcome of a dialogue would be I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a dialogue.

Ishaq Khan Khakawani MNA, PML-Q

We all share the goal of promoting peace and stability in South Asia. The fate of over a billion people depends on this. We, the representatives in Pakistan are committed to improving the life of people. India has regional and global aspirations and finds Pakistan a hindrance in achieving this goal. India's political parties should therefore, play a role to be friend not only with Pakistan but with all small neighbours in order to create an environment for peace and progress. One of the options before the Indian government is the use of force to intimidate the small neighbours. The second option is a peaceful negotiated resolution of its problems with its neighbours. It is time to give a chance to the second option. It is the duty of Pakistani parliamentarians to make the Pakistani public understand and to make a convincing case about normalising its ties with India. I urge Indian delegates to exert pressure on their government to extend an olive branch to the Kashmiri people.

Balbir Punj, MP, BJP

When we initiate with summits then we have to descend in any case. We should follow step by step policy as far as India and Pakistan relations are concerned and should stop at every step rather than to come back and start again from the zero point. Our trade terms are now worse than what they were in 1950-1952, but the ratio of non-official trade between India and Pakistan depicts that people of both the countries want to fulfill the needs of each other. Both the countries are facing same problems like poverty, unemployment, and the unavailability of drinking water. The resources of both the countries can be allocated for the welfare of people, which are being spent on defence.

Sarla Maheshwari MP, CPI-M

Both the countries should have the courage and determination to solve not only Kashmir but other enormous issues. The writers of both the countries have neither violated the borders nor favoured war. They always favour peace as literature always precedes politics. Books written in one country, therefore, should be easily available in the other. The writers should be allowed to travel and interact with each other freely to make an atmosphere, conducive for peace. We should forget about pre-conditions and should start negotiations.

Irshad Ahmed Haqqani

Reazuddin Ahmed

Senior Editor

President , SAFMA

I think this process of friendship between India and Pakistan will continue. The hand of friendship extended from Srinagar made the people of subcontinent excited. The atmosphere is positive now and we should promote this peace process. The voice should be raised everywhere for bringing Pakistan and India closer. People in both the countries are realising the advantages of peace and working together.

I did not engage myself actively in this conference because I am neither from India nor from Pakistan. I am from third country, which might have been misconceived as third party interference in this conference.

S. Nihal Singh Senior Editor

The emotional factor between India and Pakistan militates against any rationale solution to the problems they face. Punjabis on both sides carry so much historical baggage with them that often they cannot think straight and rationally about Indo-Pak problems. The fear on Pakistan side is that India wants to shelve the Kashmir issue, therefore, all the other issues to greater or lesser extent should be made hostage to Kashmir. One way of going about it would be to pick up the threads of old discussion. Let's begin talking about Kashmir in the context of past agreements that have been made. There are a number of committees that we are supposed to form to discuss various issues. On the nuclear question, the feeling in India is that it serves Pakistanis purposes to talk about nuclear flashpoint. In other words, it is to exaggerate the threat from the nuclear equation. There is a balance of terror between the two countries, which was the basis of whole post-cold war period. What is needed in realistic terms is not civilian control but transparency about the control on nuclear weapons. There are power structures in both the countries and there are elements in these power structures that are inimical to better relations between India and Pakistan for certain vested interests. 55

The whole atmosphere here was really emotional and yesterday, it was an emotional beginning. I am going with the impression that the wind of change that has started blowing in the region will gather more winds from this conference. SAFMA will continue its efforts to bring you in this type of dialogues and productive engagements so that from the winds; we can mount the pressure on the central players to establish peace in South Asia. It is due to political acrimony between India and Pakistan that the South Asian regional forum SAARC could not make any substantive progress. Today in a new global setting, it is easy to work more unitedly together for peace, stability and progress in this region. If India and Pakistan normalise their relations, the maximum beneficiaries will be the smaller countries in this region including Bangladesh. We will continue to pressurise the central players to come to an understanding and to realise the reality that we should move together and SAARC should be stronger. There should be peace in South Asia and I agree that peace in the region is required for progress.

The Punjab hospitality Opening hearts: Chief Minister of Punjab Ch. Pervaiz Elahi and the elder Chaudhary, President PML-Q Shujaat Hussain, with the Indian MPs at the sumptuous dinner they hosted in Lahore 56

A better

tomorrow

Speaks Ch.Parvez Elahi, Chief Minister of the Punjab

Receiving the guests

What if the Congress comes?

I am delighted to welcome you to the great city of Lahore. Lahore has been historically the cross-cultural hub of subcontinent for centuries. Lahore is the resting place of our national poet Allama Iqbal, who is widely respected in India, while we cherish Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh faith, who was born in the vicinity of Lahore. The poetry of Bulleh Shah & Waris Shah has left a major impact on subcontinent. Many of us look forward to the opportunity to visit the shrines of great saints like Khawaja Moeen-udDin Chisti of Ajmer and Nazim-ud-Din Aulia of Delhi. I understand that cricket is a passion in India and Pakistan. The great Indian cricketer Lala Amaranth, who hit the first test century for India in 1933 was a son of Lahore. Today, there is a great hunger for restoration of sporting ties. I would like to see cricket and hockey tours between the two nations and I assure that your teams will be fully welcomed. The resumption of bus service has come at a good time. Its human impact has been immediate. It has reunited divided families and it has allowed the world to see that, despite political tensions, the soul of common human values and decency remains fully alive. The recent proof of that is the second life given to the Pakistani girl Noor Fatima, who was operated by Indian doctors in Bangalore. While lauding the developments towards normalcy and diplomacy, one cannot overlook difficulties. Kashmir is one dispute in the world where both parties are nuclear-armed. This scenario does not apply, for example, even on such an explosive issue like the Arab-Israeli conflict over Palestine. We reject violence, but its rootcauses must be addressed, not just its symptoms. For the people of South Asia, peace is not a choice but a must. For peace to last, it has to be genuine and just. If we want peace, we have to work for justice. Neither force nor aggression is the solution. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not forget that some of our challenges are common. Both India and Pakistan have similar socioeconomic problems. These are for example, poverty, low literacy rates, illhealth, and low quality of life in remote areas. Before us is the task of striving for the dignity and well-being of the common citizens. I trust that visit like yours shall create a positive climate enabling both the countries to share and learn from each others experiences. Our region is the most densely populated area in the world. Instability in our region will mean instability for the entire globe. Today, with your visit, I see hope for a better tomorrow.

At the foot steps of Human Rights fort The Indian guests at the farewell lunch hosted by former chairperson of HRCP Asma Jehangir

People

to bring peace Asma Jehangir

n behalf of the human rights and peace activists and on my own behalf, I welcome your peace mission to Pakistan. For a long time, the relations between India and Pakistan have remained a hostage to animosity and self-serving jingoism while people of the two countries have been craving for peace and cordial relations. What is quite unfortunate is that in a continuing state of conflict and deionisation, the minorities and dispossessed people have become a victim of religious extremism of the majority community in both the countries. Recourse to violence and terrorism, perpetrated by both state and non-state parties, has further exacerbated the situation, adversely affecting human rights across the borders. Consequently, the poor Kashmiris have been caught in between the cross-fire of security agencies and the terrorists. The civil societies of the two countries have been striving for good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan. Rising above the bellicosity of two establishments, the peace movement from across frontiers has been demanding an end to hostility and violence and the resumption of a sustainable and productive process of dialogue without making it either a

Asma Jehangir with Ram Jethmalani: Bring the Kashmiris together

hostage to one or the other issue or ignoring the major concerns of the parties involved. There is a greater need to remove all barriers in the way of expanding people-to-people contacts and allowing the divided families to meet more frequently and pilgrims to visit their holy shrines. Let me emphasise again that without the involvement of the people at a larger scale in the peace process and expansion of peace constituency, it will be hard for both the establishments to rise above their uncompromising positions.

Regardless of Asmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brief

Exchanging notes: Dr. Mubashir Hasan with Ram Jethmalani When will you become the chairman of Kashmir Committee here?

You are not like Taliban

Chief Minister of North Western Frontier Province Akram Durrani receives Margaret Alva and Mr. Punj

At Maulanas'

reception

Chief Minister of North Western Frontier Province Akram Durrani hosted a luncheon-reception in honour of the Indian parliamentarians and other guests at the Frontier House in Islamabad. The reception was attended by large number of Ulemas and leaders of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA). They included Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, JUI chief, Maulana Shah Ahmed Norani, President JUP, Farid Piracha, Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Samiul Haq, President JUI-S, and other top leaders of MMA.

Receiving Ram Vilas Pawan and his better half

A tribute to Shri Malkani By Imtiaz Alam

y dear friend K. R. Malkani's sudden death has caused me an immense personal loss and has deprived SAFMA of an associate, always ready to help. His Happy Divali card, I received after his death, conveyed a unique message that he will always remain a candle of hope for us. I met him, for the first time, when I went to New Delhi in 1998 to invite Indian MPs to First Indo-Pak Parliamentary Conference. We became friend after just two or Islamabad: July 1st, 2000 three meetings. He was a Shri Malkani at the straightforward, honest and First South Asian Free Media Conference committed person who could go to of SAFMA any extent to fulfill a promise. The Indian MPs were told by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that they postponed their visit to Islamabad since the host had come into conflict with the Nawaz Sharif government and official quarters did not favour their visit. After talking to me, Shri Malkani promised to keep his commitment. The Prime Minister Vajpayee had left for a conference and Home Minister L. K. Advani kept the same instance. This was only Malkani who took it upon himself and brought 26 MPs to Islamabad, despite hesitation at the official level. Without his steadfastness, that conference could not have taken place. When I again went to New Delhi to plan the follow-up conference there, there was no one who could offer to become a partner. This was again Malkani who brought Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on board and also made the authorities agree to the idea. Most interesting was his transformation from a 'hawk' into a 'dove' in the RSS camp. He showed me some of the press clippings depicting his transformation to confirm how happy he was with his new image of a peace maker. Again, when we floated the idea of organising the First South Asian Free Media Conference, this was Malkani who became one of the most enthusiastic supporters of SAFMA. Accompanying 72 Indian journalists, in his capacity as the Editor of RSS organ, he became one of the leading founding members of SAFMA. Last time when we were finding difficulties in 61

getting the support of the BJP and RSS for SAFMA's â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Experts and Journalists Conferenceâ&#x20AC;? he came all along from Pondiycherry to participate in our meeting in New Delhi. The issue was how to reach the Prime Minister Office (PMO). He called National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra who agreed immediately to a meeting within an hour. In a matter of two hours, he got the clearance for BJP's participation from the PMO. He himself wanted to come, but was stopped since he held the post of Lt. Governor in Pondicherry. Most encouraging was the confirmation he got from Shri Sudarshan for the participation of the RSS delegation. As a person and a friend, he was entirely different from what his public image was. He was a very open hearted person and was in fact very passionate about bringing amity between India and Pakistan. Malkani ji was not a religious conformist, as I found out, although he was believed to be a prejudiced Hindu communalist. On the basis of my prolonged conversations, I found a very flexible person in him who was ready to go much beyond the stated position of his party on the issues of conflict with Pakistan, including Kashmir. A Sindhi by birth and a migrant to India, he had a great urge for overcoming distances between the two countries. Interestingly, he was realistic enough to adapt his party's thesis of 'Bharat Mata key ekta' to the model of European Union and was willing to remove the ' smaller irritant of Kashmir' in the way of creating a South Asian fraternity or Union. Why was he so keen? He wrote in one of his last letters to me: "We must keep Anglo-Amricas out of IndoPakistan pourparlers (parleys)". I often feel, despite being a secularist and humanist, that, perhaps, it is easier to talk to some of the RSS ideologues on Indo-Pak issues than certain pseudo secularists who are more loyal to the state policy. Shri Malkai is no more in this world, but his moral support and strength will remain with us to push the peace agenda of SAFMA forward. But who will fill the void created by his death from among the RSS cadres ?

Islamabad: Feb. 12, 1999, First Indo-Pak Parliamentary Conference: towards Detente in the Subcontinent : Mr. Malkani sharing pleasantries with (on his right) Late Law Minister Yaseen Watto, former National Assembly Speaker Ilahi Bakhsh Soomro, present Foreign Minister Khurshied Kasuri and (on his left) Shri Balram Jhakar, MP Congress, former Senator Akram Zaki, and Mr. Vedak

Glimpses

How should not a parliament function?

Wish you luck of Loksabha

Without prejudice to our position on Kashmir

Point of no order

Friendly tresspassing at Wahgah

With expectations we welcome you to bring peace

At Wahgah Roses without thorns

Laloo Parasad Yadav with Balbir Punj, Ramji Lal Suman and other MPs Responding to welcoming slogans by the Lahorites at Wahgah

The Punjabi connection regardless of gender segregation

Dileep Padgaonkar: Trying to gauge sentiments

With Tahira Mazhar Ali Khan, a friend of Nehrus

Civic reception at Lahore Can you create a peace wave?

Watching the play for peace

Playing horror of conflict

Pulling down the hate-wall

SAFMA's reception at Islamabad 65

Being received at the Islamabad Airport by Mustansar Javed, Gen. Secretary SAFMA Pakistan

Focus of the Press

Refreshing acquaintances

Dancing to the tunes of Shahbaz Qalandar

LoC or Chenab line?

Exchanging notes

Friendly Handshake: Ch. Shujaat & Punj

Ch. Shujaat listens to Laloo's bhashan

Mani Shankar Aiyar: Make two Punjabs friendly

SAFMA's reception at Islamabad 65

Being received at the Islamabad Airport by Mustansar Javed, Gen. Secretary SAFMA Pakistan

Focus of the Press

Refreshing acquaintances

Dancing to the tunes of Shahbaz Qalandar

LoC or Chenab line?

Exchanging notes

Friendly Handshake: Ch. Shujaat & Punj

Ch. Shujaat listens to Laloo's bhashan

Mani Shankar Aiyar: Make two Punjabs friendly

More relaxing than Lok Sabha

Meat tastes good in Pakistan

At Indian High Commissioner's reception

Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA, with Sherry Rehman, MNA PPP-P

People will prevail

Thanking SAFMA

Will meet again

Not to be divided

SAFMA solidarity

Comrade come again