South Asia neighbours: Message of love seeps through parliamentary dialogue
The 18-member delegation returned home after holding two days discussion in Patna.
NEW DEHLI/LAHORE:
In a recent visit to Patna, Pakistani lawmaker Anusha Rehman emotively proclaimed: “We have crossed borders to bring forth the message of love.” All eyes in the room welled up.
The scene was recounted by an official when members of parliament from Pakistan were warmly welcomed by their Indian counterparts in Patna.
The 18-member delegation of parliamentarians returned home on Sunday, after two days of intense discussions headed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha and Congress politician Mani Shankar Aiyar.
The fourth interactive dialogue between Indian and Pakistani MPs was unanimously termed as a “runaway success”.
A joint declaration prepared by elected representatives would be presented in the legislature for its endorsement and passage in both the countries according to Rehman.
With Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna’s visit to Islamabad lined up in the near future, a slew of radical confidence-building measures were proposed by the MPs of both countries.
These included allowing citizens to travel across the border in their personal vehicles, discontinuing police reporting to avoid undue harassment of travellers and visa-free access to educationists and senior citizens.
Delegation leader Senator Jahangir Badar, with Haji Adeel of the Awami National Party (ANP) and Khurram Dastgir of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in tow talked with the media about the visit.
“We are dreaming of peace with our eyes open. If elected representatives of both countries continue interacting and visiting each other repeatedly, then there is little chance that the peace process will be derailed by extremists”, Dastgir said.
He added that besides the issue of visa regime, health, education, economy, trade, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, Kashmir, Indian’s infiltration via Afghanistan were also discussed in detail.
The issue concerning fake SMSs allegedly emanating from Pakistan was also discussed. Dastgir retorted to the issue, saying Pakistan would respond if India provides evidence to support the allegations that elements based on Pakistani soil uploaded inflammatory content on websites.
“Hate mail or no hate mail, we were in India to create a positive atmosphere,” he said.
Furthermore, the parliamentarians also recommended the immediate release of prisoners who have completed their jail terms. They also proposed treatment along humanitarian lines of fishermen and others who inadvertently crossed into the neighbouring territory or territorial waters.
When drawing attention to Sarabjeet Singh languishing in a Pakistani jail, the delegates said that they too believe that those who have completed their jail term should be repatriated at the earliest possible date to their respective countries.
The delegates were in full praise of governance in India. Haji Adeel pointed out that even though Bihar was one of India’s poorest states, it overcame its longstanding issues and is on the road to progress.
Jahangir Badr congratulated Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his efforts on raising human development and socio economic indices in the state.
Badar further added that such dialogues are important for propping up bilateral relations.
Although Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was scheduled to meet with the delegation, he regretted his absence due to a recent political upheaval in the country, where the BJP demanded the premier’s resignation.
The MPs welcomed the forthcoming meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in Islamabad Sept 7-9 to review the second round of the resumed dialogue.
The parliamentarians urged the two governments to sign the proposed liberal visa regime agreement at upcoming meeting.
Dastgir told the media that the next visit of parliamentarians might not be held as the Indian government is facing an internal crisis while Pakistan is facing the prospect of a snap election.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2012.
In a recent visit to Patna, Pakistani lawmaker Anusha Rehman emotively proclaimed: “We have crossed borders to bring forth the message of love.” All eyes in the room welled up.
The scene was recounted by an official when members of parliament from Pakistan were warmly welcomed by their Indian counterparts in Patna.
The 18-member delegation of parliamentarians returned home on Sunday, after two days of intense discussions headed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha and Congress politician Mani Shankar Aiyar.
The fourth interactive dialogue between Indian and Pakistani MPs was unanimously termed as a “runaway success”.
A joint declaration prepared by elected representatives would be presented in the legislature for its endorsement and passage in both the countries according to Rehman.
With Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna’s visit to Islamabad lined up in the near future, a slew of radical confidence-building measures were proposed by the MPs of both countries.
These included allowing citizens to travel across the border in their personal vehicles, discontinuing police reporting to avoid undue harassment of travellers and visa-free access to educationists and senior citizens.
Delegation leader Senator Jahangir Badar, with Haji Adeel of the Awami National Party (ANP) and Khurram Dastgir of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in tow talked with the media about the visit.
“We are dreaming of peace with our eyes open. If elected representatives of both countries continue interacting and visiting each other repeatedly, then there is little chance that the peace process will be derailed by extremists”, Dastgir said.
He added that besides the issue of visa regime, health, education, economy, trade, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, Kashmir, Indian’s infiltration via Afghanistan were also discussed in detail.
The issue concerning fake SMSs allegedly emanating from Pakistan was also discussed. Dastgir retorted to the issue, saying Pakistan would respond if India provides evidence to support the allegations that elements based on Pakistani soil uploaded inflammatory content on websites.
“Hate mail or no hate mail, we were in India to create a positive atmosphere,” he said.
Furthermore, the parliamentarians also recommended the immediate release of prisoners who have completed their jail terms. They also proposed treatment along humanitarian lines of fishermen and others who inadvertently crossed into the neighbouring territory or territorial waters.
When drawing attention to Sarabjeet Singh languishing in a Pakistani jail, the delegates said that they too believe that those who have completed their jail term should be repatriated at the earliest possible date to their respective countries.
The delegates were in full praise of governance in India. Haji Adeel pointed out that even though Bihar was one of India’s poorest states, it overcame its longstanding issues and is on the road to progress.
Jahangir Badr congratulated Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his efforts on raising human development and socio economic indices in the state.
Badar further added that such dialogues are important for propping up bilateral relations.
Although Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was scheduled to meet with the delegation, he regretted his absence due to a recent political upheaval in the country, where the BJP demanded the premier’s resignation.
The MPs welcomed the forthcoming meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in Islamabad Sept 7-9 to review the second round of the resumed dialogue.
The parliamentarians urged the two governments to sign the proposed liberal visa regime agreement at upcoming meeting.
Dastgir told the media that the next visit of parliamentarians might not be held as the Indian government is facing an internal crisis while Pakistan is facing the prospect of a snap election.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2012.