Three Indian MPs attend regional conference in Pakistan

Shashi Tharoor, Meenakshi Lekhi Swapan Dasgupta part of APA

Amid souring ties, a three-member Indian delegation of MPs attended a regional conference hosted by Pakistan, The Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday.

The Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) conference held in Murree was attended by Shashi Tharoor, Meenakshi Lekhi and Swapan Dasgupta.

The Indian lawmakers’ visit came at a time when bilateral contacts and exchange of visits have stalled after the Uri terror attack and India boycotted the SAARC Summit hosted by Pakistan.

The conference, attended by 23 Asian countries and scheduled to conclude on March 17, is being held to discuss closer cooperation and creation of Asian parliament on the pattern of European Union.

Addressing the participants, Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said Asia must decide its own destiny and white racism and western imperialism were not going to solve its problems.

“We represent the people who are suffering, under nourished, are the object of poverty and victim of terrorism. If we were unable to find indigenous solution for the problems of our own people history will not forgive us,” Rabbani remarked.

He said Asia was a land of natural resources, which were being exploited by western imperialism. “Asia still continues to suffer through neo-colonialism,” he added.

Pointing out the changing world after US presidential elections and Brexit, he hoped the meeting would produce good results.