LAHORE:
The people of Pakistan and India have realised that war is not a solution and that dialogue is the only effective way to settle bilateral disputes.
Former federal information minister and MNA, Qamar Zaman Kaira stated this while talking to the media on his return with a 20-member parliamentary delegation from India at the Allama Iqbal International Airport here on Saturday.
Kaira told journalists that Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation had visited India on a goodwill gesture.
“On reaching India, we were glad to know that people and politicians of India also want stable relations with their neighbouring Pakistan,” he added.
He said the India’s parliamentarians had formed Indo-Pak Friendship Forum, asserting that the Pakistani legislators would soon constitute such a joint platform at Senate and National Assembly level, and invite the Indian parliamentarians to visit Pakistan too.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (9)
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Let us keep talking and increase the dialogue by cultural exchanges. Once we build some confidence and mutual respect we can start direct trade and get out of poverty and other social evils. There is no silver bullet but it would be a game changer for both the countries. We must stop the hatred and hostile rhetoric against each other. We have been the same people for centuries, we breath the same air, drink water from the same rivers and have more in common that we give realize.
@Khawar Farid Maneka: Nothing amazing about that. The Pakistani generals can only have their defence housing societies and BMW series 7 cars if a constant hatred and fear of India and Hindu banias is created in Pakistan. That is why they constantly attack India directly as in Kargill or indirectly through strategic assets every time peace seems on hand.
@Khawar Farid Maneka:
The answer to this is simple. There are 2 states, out of which only one has got issues, in the sense that it wants something from the other. But, the 2nd state does not want anything from the 1st state and is dominant enough to maintain the status quo.
Now, there are 2 possible solutions to this. 1) Either the 2nd state give the 1st state what it wants, or, 2) The 1st state has to give up its claims.
Clearly, India is the 2nd state. It neither wants any Territory or any natural resources from Pakistan. Pakistan, is not willing to accept this and says the issues are pending.
There is another dimension to this story. The dominant state is not distracted and is growing leaps and bounds. The non-dominant state is obsessed by this and spends on matching the preparations of the dominant state and as a result is not growing and its economy is at a standstill.
Now, in this scenario it is even more important for Pakistan to voluntarily give up its claims and fix its internal issues.
Dialogue is the only solution, because Pakistan has tried all other means of arriving at a solution and has backfired all those times.
The people of Pakistan and India have realised that war is not a solution and that dialogue is the only effective way to settle bilateral disputes.
people of India knew this long time back. not sure about pakistan.
There is no real isue to resolve. Pakistan minds its own business and India its own. The problem arises when Pakistan makes absurd claims from Kashmir to water. Pakistan should just try to enjoy and hold on to what it has and India has made no threats or claims on what Pakistan currently has. And yes, once Pakistan stops making claims , it wil have no real reason to arm, train and shelter terrorists to send to India.
It is amazing that India and Pakistan are so eager and willing to normalize the relationship yet the outcome is zero. Surely, diplomacy can be, at times, difficult to understand. I think, if there was to be a some serious resolve, it will come in pieces and bits and that too on issues of very little importance.
The people of both the countries has realized long ago that the war is not the solution, but who will tell this to the power center of India and Pakistan.