Pak-India peace conference calls for unconditional dialogue for resolving Kashmir issue

NEW DELHI, Jan 13 (APP): Pak-India peace conference called for uninterrupted and unconditional dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi for resolving Kashmir and other outstanding issues.

“Once resumed, dialogue should be uninterrupted and uninterruptible, whatever the twists and turns in the relations between the two countries may be. Consider a suitable location near the border where the talks will be held at regular intervals”, said a declaration issued on the conclusion of the 3-day conference “A Road Map to Peace”.

Referring to Kashmir, it said since this is a core issue and there must be a genuine and urgent effort to find solutions. Firstly both India and Pakistan must jointly agree to de-militarize Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government should repeal the Armed forces Special Powers Act, withdraw troops and punishment of those guilty of crimes against people.

It called for taking the opinions and aspirations of people in all areas in Jammu and Kashmir when working out solutions.

India must reinstate Constitutional Article 370 on Kashmir in its original form as a step towards building confidence and goodwill and allow Kashmiris to live and work in Pakistan if they wish.

It called for halting militarist/chauvinist statements from political or military leadership of the two countries and settlement of long awaiting solution to Siachin, Sir Creek and Wullar Barrage immediately.

Calling for demilitarizing the border between India and Pakistan, it said both countries should work together to counter terrorism and fundamentalism which are common challenges.

Both the countries should set up mechanisms and share intelligence and related information within the framework of the 1987 Saarc convention on combating terrorism.

It called upon India to unilaterally open the borders to further facilitate border trade. India must take initiative to build the trade between the two countries and with the rest of South Asia.

On economic front, the declaration called for easing customs and tariff procedures, issuing of business visas and free movement for migrant workers.

Both the countries must try to formulate a joint economic partnership agreement and set up branches of Indian and Pakistani banks and financial institutions in each others’ territories.

Referring to media, the declaration said there has to be a self censorship to stop hate speech and war mongering in the media The flow of information, software, know-how, knowledge should be opened up and import of books, periodicals, newspapers should be permitted without impediment.

Meeting of senior editors between Pakistan and India should be held, in an effort to lead media away from jingoism.

Media houses should be allowed to station journalists in each other’s capitals without difficulty and cultural exchange must be freely allowed and encouraged.

Both the countries should revise curricula to encourage friendship and not hate.

The possibility of a visa free regime has been often discussed but not operationalised. Stringent scrutiny can be done without undue restrictiveness, the declaration said.

There should be rolling back on the nuclear programme in both countries to establish a nuclear free South Asia and cooperate jointly towards global disarmament.

It called for creating space for national and other minorities in all parts of India and Pakistan.

It called for revisiting the Indus Water Treaty in the light of new factors like climate change and its implications based on the principles of equitable sharing rather than division of waters.

Ways needed to be explored to optimize use and distribution ofwaters and energy for benefit of the people of both countries.

It called for reduction of military spending by at least 10% per year, and divert the savings to the social and development sector.

In order to reduce tensions, it is important that military commanders of both countries meet and interact, as part of the peace dialogue.
It called for changing the beating retreat ceremony at the Wagah border to reflect peace, not conflict.

India should assist Pakistan to develop a low carbon strategy and facilitate the transfer of regenerative technologies to Pakistan Both the countries should conduct joint research on ecological and climate related issues. Siachen Glacier must become a zone of peace. it should be evacuated of army presence altogether. This is important for both for reasons of environmental and also for the sake of soldiers.

Pakistan and India must work together to strengthen regional cooperation based on the Saarc charter and its conventions.

It called for releasing all fisherfolk currently detained in Indian and Pakistani jails. They should stop arresting fisherfolk who stray into the other country’s territorial waters and release all political prisoners who have served their term.

It called for setting up Joint Pak-India committees on Kashmir, hate speech, human rights, distribution of water resources, prisoners, military expenditure and Confidence Building Measures.

The discussions in the Conference over the last three days have shown how far the public sentiment in both India and Pakistan is inclined towards peace. The participating organizations from both sides of the border represent a vast constituency which is ready to work towards building enduring and sustainable peace between the two countries.

This conference is not a stand alone event. The participants resolve to work in groups on each of the areas that were identified in the sessions, to further the gains of the conference, the declaration said.

Earlier, speakers at media and culture session called for taking measures to exchange of journalists and allow free flow of information.

Aitzaz Ahsan, Iqbal Haider, Senator Hasil Bizenjo, Asma Jehnagir and Medeeha Gauhar were among the representatives of civil society from Pakistan who participated in the conference.