Common interests and common future Against the backdrop of the recent meeting between foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in Thimpu (Bhutan) where they agreed to resume dialogue on all outstanding issues including Kashmir, the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation organised a dialogue conference, Common Interests and Common Future: Dialogue across the LoC, at New Delhi on Feb. 13 and 14.

Politicians, academicians, former bureaucrats, social workers, traders and journalists from both sides of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir besides eminent personalities from India and Pakistan met at the conference to discuss issues of common concern.

Prominent personalities from Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan who were invited included Sherry Rehman, Member of Pakistan Parliament, Justice Majeed Malik, former Chief Justice Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Dr Humayun Khan, former Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Aziz Ahmad Khan, former Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Nasim Zehra, Security Analyst & Journalist, Dr. Toqueer Gilani, Senior Leader and member JKLF and Hafeezur Rahman, President PML-N Gilgit-Baltistan.

CDR, a non-governmental initiative based in New Delhi, is actively involved in civil society dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir and has held meetings and conferences for a decade between civil society and members of the political parties. CDR dialogue initiatives have provided a platform for people across the LoC to meet within J&K and have meaningful discussions. This Dialogue Conference is a part of Intra-Kashmir (Cross-LoC) dialogue series launched in 2005.

Earlier dialogues organised by CDR have generated suggestions and recommendations like opening the Poonch-Rawalakot route to travel and trade, that the two governments took up and made into a reality. In 2008, CDR facilitated the visit of first trade delegation from AJK before actual trade across the LoC began.

The aim of these dialogues is to create a conducive atmosphere where participants can express their ideas and opinions in a free and frank atmosphere and dialogue over issues of common concern with the aim of finding a solution.

This conference provided an opportunity to assess the performance of the Cross-LoC trade and Cross-LoC Bus Service, discuss steps that could be taken to enhance people-to-people contact and explore measures that can improve the political climate on both sides of LoC. The delegates discussed other equally important issues like autonomy and self rule and resolutions proposed by certain political parties in Kashmir.

- aka

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

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