Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 11: Centre for Peace and Progress which organizes seminars and conferences all over India to promote the cause of peace and understanding- held a round table discussion on Indo-Pak relations in which politicians, journalists, Civil Society and Separatist leaders participated.
The Centre for Peace and Progress, Chairman O.P. Shah, in his inaugural address to the discussion on Indo-Pak relations and road ahead said that the purpose of the conference was to promote cause peace and common understanding and also in process of dialogue to arrive at a point of better understanding to get peace and prosperity all around.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader Kham Lata Waklu said that with the formation of new Government in Pakistan, “we hope stalled dialogue process between New Delhi and Islamabad will resume”.
She also said that Congress party always believes in dialogue and discussions to resolve the problems and the Congress leaders have taken number of measures in the past to resolves problems.
People’s Democratic Party legislator Nizam-ul-Din Bhat said number of unfortunate incidents in the recent past gave a jolt to the peace process. He said that the forum should send a message to both the countries to sort out outstanding issues amicably.
Supreme Court Lawyer, Shabnum Gani Lone on the occasion said that unless practical steps are not been taken to resolve the Kashmir issue conference are a futile exercise. She said that both India and Pakistan talking peace but we have witnessed the Sarabjit and Sanaullah, assassinations taking place in jails.
CPI (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, said that political leadership of both the countries are not in a position to talk to each other and people should not expect any extra ordinary development in the near future.
Former MP, Abdul Rashid Kabli said Pakistan leadership is not united force and their political parties are divided in many regions. He said that it is the Pakistani army which is a united force in Pakistan and Pakistani leadership has to take them on board for resolving Kashmir issue.
He also said that New Delhi missed number of opportunities and it is the bad politics of the Congress party, that Kashmir issue is unresolved. He said Pandit Nehru made promise of plebiscite, but Congress party totally ignored.
“The internal autonomy, article 370 is being eroded by Congress party. It is the Congress party that is responsible for militancy in Kashmir as it forced Muslim Muttahida Mahaz members to take to guns,” he said.
Chairman JKDLP Hashim Qureshi said that terrorism is indeed a big hurdle in achieving peace in the sub-continent, but that terrorism and extremism is not only a factor in Pakistan, but also in India. Hashim Qureshi also highlighted the human rights violations and restrictions on political leaders in Kashmir.
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