Indian, Pakistani MPs propose new CBMs

Delegates favour streamlining visa process for travellers, see scope for religious tourism.

NEW DELHI: Parliamentarians from Pakistan and India wrapped up their fourth round of dialogue on Friday with appeals for several confidence building measures, specifically to ease the visa process between the two neighbours.

They proposed that citizens from both countries be able to obtain visas exempt from police reporting to avoid harassment during their stay. Delegates at the parliamentary dialogue also highlighted the importance of health-related travel and religious tourism between the countries, suggesting that it be treated as a priority.

The group also encouraged acceleration in the exchange of artists and media persons by the two sides and suggested that both countries lift a ban on airing each other’s news and entertainment channels. They also insisted that educationists and senior citizens from both sides of the border be allowed visa-free access.

It was suggested that the two sides move towards allowing citizens to travel across the border in their own vehicles.

The two-day dialogue began with discussion on developments in the official Pakistan-India dialogue process. More specifically, parliamentarians discussed the themes of visas, education, health, local government and the role of media. On each of these themes, specific recommendations have been made by the parliamentarians, which was turned into a joint statement issued upon the conclusion of the two-day dialogue.

For future dialogue, parliamentarians have agreed to focus on issues such as agriculture and irrigation, energy (including renewable energy) and information technology, as well as general issues such as strengthening democracy and promoting accountability in public life.

Dialogue co-chair, Yashwant Sinha, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a former foreign minister and dialogue co-chairs Pakistani  Senator Muhammad Jehangir Bader, Leader of the House and MNA Khurram Dastgir Khan, Chairman, National Assembly standing committee on commerce, addressed a press conference upon the conclusion of the dialogue.

According to The Times of India, Sinha said the meeting was held in an “extremely cordial” atmosphere and all issues which have a bearing on the Indo-Pak relations were discussed.

“The feeling among people of both countries is of friendship and peace...it is quite clear that the people of the two countries want to live in peace and prosper together,”he said.

Responding to a question, Khan said Pakistan would respond if evidence is provided on allegations that elements based on its soil uploaded inflammatory content on the internet linked to Assam violence.

“I think the evidence is yet to be seen and I don’t think that even the Indian media has seen it. If evidence is given to the Pakistan government, it will respond,” said MNA Khurram Dastgir Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2012.