Chaophraya Dialogue: Delegations from India, Pakistan urge closer ties

Nuclear disarmament, stability in Afghanistan, LoC among the topics discussed at the Dialogue.

ISLAMABAD: Former ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman, former Inter Services Public Relations director general Major-General Athar Abbas and Professor Rifaat Hussain were part of the Pakistani delegation that attended the 13th round of the Chaophraya Dialogue from January 23 to 24, 2014.

The dialogue is an India-Pakistan Track II initiative organised by the Jinnah Institute (JI) and the Australia India Institute (AII).

The Pakistani delegation comprised members from various fields including politics, academia and journalism.

The Chaophraya Dialogue provides participants from both countries the opportunity to interact with each other and to work towards strengthening bilateral ties.

Nuclear disarmament, stability in Afghanistan and issues regarding the Line of Control were all discussed at the forum.

The participants of the dialogue urged that contacts between the two countries need to carry on and improve in 2014.

Interaction and cooperation of institutions of both India and Pakistan dealing with nuclear emergency was encouraged at the forum.

It was also decided that a sovereign and stable Afghanistan would be in the best interest of both countries for peace in the region.

The recent meeting of the Director Generals Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan was also welcomed and it was recommended that such meetings should be encouraged. The participants also urged for better trade relations.

Confidence-building measures agreed by the two countries so far, and visa agreement of September 2012 was also urged to be implemented in letter and spirit.

The delegates recommended a student exchange programme in order to develop a better understanding between the two countries.