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Pakistan-India talks, a 'runaway success'
Radical confidence-building measures including easy travel and trade recommended.
Lawmakers from both sides recommended radical confidence-building measures including easy travel and trade. PHOTO: FILE
BIHAR: Being dubbed as a runaway success, the visit of a Pakistani delegation to India – ahead of the visit of Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna – was warmly welcomed by the Indian parliamentarians in Bihar.
Lawmakers from both sides recommended radical confidence-building measures including easy travel and trade across the border and visa-free access for educationists and senior citizens.
The Pakistani delegation held intense discussions with Indian parliamentarians led by senior leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) Yashwant Sinha and former foreign minister and Congress member Mani Shankar Aiyar.
Easy access
The members of the delegation suggested that both Pakistan and India should allow each others’ citizens to travel across the border in their own vehicles and should not be bound to report to police in order to avoid undue harassment. They also recommended visa-free access for those associated with the education sector and the senior citizens.
The recommendations further included the removal of ban imposed on news and entertainment channels and called for promotion of artists and media persons across the border.
The parliamentarians urged the two governments to quickly implement the trade-related agreements and finalise the details of trade of energy-related products.
Panic SMSes
Discussing the issue of fake SMSes allegedly emanating from Pakistan, the parliamentarians asked the Indian government to provide evidence for their claims.
Indian Home Secretary RK Singh had alleged that text messages and emails originating from Pakistan-based URLs had caused widespread panic among the people of North East India, causing them to migrate.
“Even if the hate mails were generated from Pakistan or not, the issue only emphasises the reasons why are we here in India; we are here to create a positive atmosphere,” MNA Khurram Dastagir said.
Responding to questions about Hindus from Pakistan crossing over to India due to alleged ill-treatment, Khan said: “As far as we know, no Pakistani Hindu has so far applied for political asylum here. The government is dealing with this problem and the Supreme Court has also taken note of it.”
Liberal visa regime
Welcoming the forthcoming meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in Islamabad from September 7 to 9, the parliamentarians stressed the need to sign the proposed liberal visa regime agreement during the meeting.
They also stated that the heath-related travel and religious tourism should also be made easier as early as possible.
The Pakistani and Indian lawmakers admitted that time was ripe to resolve long-standing disputes such as Siachen and Sir Creek.
Behind bars
The delegations agreed that prisoners who have completed their term should be sent back to their homeland immediately while asked for humanitarian treatment of fishermen and others who inadvertently cross into the territory or territorial waters of the other country.
Answering to a question regarding Sarabjeet Singh – an Indian prisoner in Pakistan jail, the delegates again repeated that those who have completed their jail term should be repatriated to their respective country at the earliest.
Commending the efforts of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Jahangir Badr and Senator Haji Adil invited him to visit Pakistan.
The delegation also visited Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, a major centre of the cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent in particular and the Islamic world in general, of the mediaeval period. The members recalled the visit by Pakistani scholars, researchers, poets and authors like Ahmad Faraz, Intezar Husain, Fatima Hasan and Ayesha Jalal to this place.
Reader Comments (32)
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Nice! This government must be commended for working towards peace in our neighborhood.
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“runaway success”
The only runaway success I see in the entire news is that the Indian’s particularly, BJP did not bash the Pakistan delegation and showed hospitality to the visitors.
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Be friending India is clear disaster for Pakistan.
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We speak same language, eat same food, enjoy same culture and yet we are divided. Is it fair? I say it’s not fair. Yes there should be a liberal visa regime between India and Pakistan. I say let’s demolish the wall that separate us. Let’s have brotherly ties just like we had before the partition. Am I dreaming too much? Recommend
@Angry Mullah:
Hullo? Pakistan is already a disaster, thanks to you Mullahs.
There is nothing to lose.
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Proceed slowly with caution. We do not afford liberal visa regime at this time due to prevalent terrorism in Pakistan. It would be unwise for us to wait till the Ginnie of terrorism is caped in bottle and thrown in Indian sea.
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It is ridiculous that I got visas many times to travel to USA,a country thousands of miles away but cannot get a visa to visit India, a country just twenty miles away from my home town, Lahore.It is about time we made the visa regime easier between the two neighbouring countries.
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waste of time, We should not even talk to them until India stop state terrorism in baluchistan,Fata and Kashmir,,,,,
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@PaKhtoon: world knows whos doing what stupid! Just get ur facts right. Pak media and its citizens are always biased in their view of india. Why cant u spend time on getting ur country stronger rather than throwing tauntrums wates. Be a good human, do ur duty.
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What about non tariff barrier. The indians even dupe us in measures that are meant to dupe us from the main issue of Kashmir and water.
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Perhaps the improved relationship with India is the only path which can lead Pakistan out of its deplorable situation. But its manufacturing defect embraced by majority and pursued steadfastly by its military leadership are the biggest hurdles on this path. Politicians’ efforts have failed before in this behalf and are not likely to succeed now.
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@ Salim
India is not our country. It is their right to refuse us visa. I would suggest you don’t go there.
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I have travelled 35 countries (including US/Canada/Germany/France/Netherland/ Nepal/Thailand/Singapore/Hong Kong etc) and I have NEVER APPLIED FOR INDIAN VISA.
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I will only apply when I feel that India is welcoming us. Till that time, we should live apart (peacefully of course).
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@Pakhtoon
First Pakistan should stop state terrorism in Kashmir, Assam and Punjab
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@Salim: Salim, I cordially wish you get to travel and enjoy the similarity in our culture in India. Someday I would love to visit my in laws home town in Karachi and Lahore, have always heard good things about it’s food, fashion and people from them. Hopefully we can start ignoring negative medias and netas and start having faith on each other.
@PaKhtoon: Bhai Baluchistan and Fata is not for India to solve it’s is Pakistan’s issue and we wish it gets resolved in a way where harmony, dignity and pride of all parties concerned is maintained. About Kashmir, peace talk is only way to melt rigid hearts to bring meaningful solution, bullets only forces other side to build up higher and thicker walls which has separated us common people for so long. I hope you find peace in your heart and mind.
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@Angry Mullah:
Don’t get too excited! Aapki sehat ke liye theek nahi hai! Anyways I am not so hopeful about the talks.
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Sounds too good to be true! Nothing like Peace between two country since its the recipe of survival for Pakistan. Wish PK Army Junta realizes this sooner than later.
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@PaKhtoon:
why do they keep coming to India………….They should go to Saudi Arabia
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” runaway success ” – is the Bollywood style or Punjabi picture style.Recommend
Both sides should be saluted and backed up 100% for their courage to move forward towards restablishing long lost love among estranged brothers and sisters of India and Pakistan. The real strugle is always to fight our own Demons and not to take steps to forgive and forget. I do believe both side see the benifits of love and unity. Being Sixty One, I would pray and hope to live to see the day when we would travel without Visa / Passport requirement from Kolkuta to Karachi, to Tehran, To Afghanistan and Shanghai like our ancestors did. Please take an oath and commit to support the regional Peace loving Hindu, Muslim, Budhists and Chinese folks.
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The border separating our people and our future is the biggest blasphemy! Get rid of this border and let the people who are the same in terms of genes, language, culture, values get together. Just because of forefathers failed to make a deal and resolve issues doesn’t mean we should be relegated to hate each other. Let love, patience and understanding be the guide to our shared future and prosperity.
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What success ? Nothing has really changed and not likely too in near future either !
Pakistan has got too much to do to convince anyone at present as to its ability deal with mess it has created in the region and in its own back too, by their so called ” Assets ” !
Addtionally India needs actions and closure in regards to Mumbai Attacks and bring the culprits to be held for their actions first, which Pakistan simply can not afford to do, as they are well aware of the implications too !
So this is just more BS feel good factor, nothing more !
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We have a live example: United States of America and Canada, live in PEACE and HARMONY.
Why can’t we Indians and Pakistanis live together in peace and harmony. Both the countries divert invaluable resources protecting the border, for what?
Life is toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo short.
Sooner or later all of us have to go and meet our CREATOR.
LIVE and LET LIVE.
Khao piyo aur aur mauje karo, pyaare bhai aur bahnoe, GUSSA thook do.
NAMSTE, SALLAM, NAMSTE, SALLAM, NAMSTE, SALLAM, NAMSTE, SALLAM, NAMSTE
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I think it is the political section of Pakistan that is behind this news. They want to create a favorable atmosphere at the NAM conference in Iran this week. However, if something really good and lasting comes from Pakistan, it should be verified, appreciated and reciprocated.
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Looks like India has failed to learn its lessons from last 65 years of Pak conduct,
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Prosperity of Pakistan depends on friendship with India. Its dividends will brighten the education sector and improve the social wellbeing of the people. Even one third reduction in defence budget will free up enough funds to spur the economic progress.
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Talking and listening to the other side is always welcomed but I do not support the unwelcomed ways and means our silly innocent younger generation is following what come s through the Indian media, the only reason I say this even those I stand for freedom but one with clear boundaries. Not the uncontrolled ways where one loses the boundaries of being decent. The dress code and the ways of India and west is not possible in pakistan, not for the majority still and will never be I am sure, but that is the beauty of being different but respect what the other wants or does.
I support whatever the other wants as long as they do not try to impose that on me.
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@Azwar, Nobody’s imposing anything on you my friend :-)
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@Raj – USA:
It was BJP which put Pakistan relationship on track to normalcy. Unfortunately nothing much has moved during UPA.
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@Sapan Kapoor:
“We speak same language, eat same food, enjoy same culture “
A few mohallas in Delhi inhabited by Punjabi Hindus do not represent a vast multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multilingual, multicultural , vastly diverse country such as India. There is only one other country in the world that can claim that characterization -America. Comparing such a country to a shallow, narrow-minded country like Pakistan whose people pride themselves on their monotonous, willful homogeneity betrays awful lack of proportion. When you say “We” you may be referring to Punjabi Hindus of India and Punjabi Muslims of Pakistan; you certainly do not speak for the vast non-Punjabi people of the subcontinent, including Sikhs.
Goebbelsian lies about imaginary similarities cannot lay a foundation for what you seemed to be obsessed with. You refused to engage in another thread regarding Kashmiri Sunnis and I am sure you will run away from this one,too! Not surprising!
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its a typo…it should be ‘runway’ ‘ not ‘runaway’. runway success means the plane of pakistanis landed successfully…..hehehehehe
alternatively ‘runaway success’ could also be interpreted as ‘success’ that ran away from both the parties….hehehehehehe
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@Babloo:
Looks like India has failed to learn its lessons from last 65 years of Pak conduct,
The problem is that India has got one of the weekest Govt in its history, hence this chaos !
This bunch of misfits who are in coalition are simply there for their own self interests, nothing more !
Its time India had an Majority Govt with strong mandate to deal with domestic and international policies . Recommend
@Komal S:
Totally agree with you. Vajpayee took the first bold step and Yasvant Singh took it further. But the mindset in Pakistan that has been built up for over 60 years cannot be changed in one or two generations It would take 4-5 generations at least. However, on Pakistan’s side Zardari is doing his best. Fauzia Wahab also tried her best. But Zardari has lot of opposition in Pakistan and from many within his own Party.
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