Pakistan, India must set up counterterrorism centres
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The two-day strategic seminar organized under Aman Ki Asha concluded here on Wednesday with the conclusion that war is not an option for India and Pakistan.
The seminar was organized under the Aman Ki Asha initiative of the Jang Group and the Times of India for devising ways and means of reducing the acrimony that has thus far marked relations between the two countries and turn a new leaf in the ties for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.
The two-day seminar deliberated on a plethora of issues which promised lots of positive developments. The seminar was marked by lectures and closed sessions to discuss various issues like trade, counter-terrorism, and others. At the end of the conference, recommendations were made for starting a new chapter in the ties, which are listed below:
Conclusions and recommendations
1. War is not an option. The two sides should formulate policies, which should make war impossible.
2. Terrorism is a common enemy of the people of India and Pakistan. The governments of Pakistan and India must coordinate to combat terrorism and in this context, a joint mechanism agreed to in Havana needs to be strengthened by establishing Counter Terrorism Centres (CTC).
a) It is proposed that CTCs be established in New Delhi and Islamabad as a way to institutionalise cooperation against terrorism.
b) The mandate of CTCs would include regular communication, early warning, exchange of actionable Intelligence, monitoring of terrorist organisations, joint training in counter-terrorism and potentially joint responses/operations.
c) The CTCs would be headed by a secretary-level officer and include senior officers from all the intelligence and criminal investigation agencies.
d) There would be a dedicated hotline between the CTCs and there would be monthly meetings between the heads alternatively in Islamabad and New Delhi.
3. To promote stability and peace in the region there is a need to implement all the confidence building measures, which have already been agreed to between Islamabad and New Delhi.
4. The Pakistan and Indian governments should move ahead for the resolution of the pending issues like Sir Creek and Siachen Glacier.
5. Jammu & Kashmir remains one of the critical issues between the two countries and they should work for its early resolution, taking into account the wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
6. Back channel needs to be revived at the earliest date.
7. There is a need for more civil society-led peace initiatives, like Aman Ki Asha, which would build public opinion and strengthen the hands of the two governments to resolve all outstanding issues.
8. The Indus Water Treaty has stood the test of time for more than five decades. There is value to utilising the existing provisions of the treaty for more optimal use of the water resources of the Indus River Basin.
9. The challenges of water scarcity and environment degradation must be addressed at the regional level.
These recommendations were accepted unanimously.
10. There is a need to develop an integrated energy plan for the provision of electricity and natural gas for South Asia.
11. The two countries should provide a level playing field to one another to boost trade and economic ties. For this, Islamabad should work to give most favored nation status to India, while New Delhi should remove the non-tariff barriers that will ensure a multi-fold increase in mutually beneficial trade.
12. There is a need to take bold initiatives in order to liberalise visa regime between the two countries. Practices like police reporting and city-specific visas should be done away with.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
KARACHI: The two-day strategic seminar organized under Aman Ki Asha concluded here on Wednesday with the conclusion that war is not an option for India and Pakistan.
The seminar was organized under the Aman Ki Asha initiative of the Jang Group and the Times of India for devising ways and means of reducing the acrimony that has thus far marked relations between the two countries and turn a new leaf in the ties for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.
The two-day seminar deliberated on a plethora of issues which promised lots of positive developments. The seminar was marked by lectures and closed sessions to discuss various issues like trade, counter-terrorism, and others. At the end of the conference, recommendations were made for starting a new chapter in the ties, which are listed below:
Conclusions and recommendations
1. War is not an option. The two sides should formulate policies, which should make war impossible.
2. Terrorism is a common enemy of the people of India and Pakistan. The governments of Pakistan and India must coordinate to combat terrorism and in this context, a joint mechanism agreed to in Havana needs to be strengthened by establishing Counter Terrorism Centres (CTC).
a) It is proposed that CTCs be established in New Delhi and Islamabad as a way to institutionalise cooperation against terrorism.
b) The mandate of CTCs would include regular communication, early warning, exchange of actionable Intelligence, monitoring of terrorist organisations, joint training in counter-terrorism and potentially joint responses/operations.
c) The CTCs would be headed by a secretary-level officer and include senior officers from all the intelligence and criminal investigation agencies.
d) There would be a dedicated hotline between the CTCs and there would be monthly meetings between the heads alternatively in Islamabad and New Delhi.
3. To promote stability and peace in the region there is a need to implement all the confidence building measures, which have already been agreed to between Islamabad and New Delhi.
4. The Pakistan and Indian governments should move ahead for the resolution of the pending issues like Sir Creek and Siachen Glacier.
5. Jammu & Kashmir remains one of the critical issues between the two countries and they should work for its early resolution, taking into account the wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
6. Back channel needs to be revived at the earliest date.
7. There is a need for more civil society-led peace initiatives, like Aman Ki Asha, which would build public opinion and strengthen the hands of the two governments to resolve all outstanding issues.
8. The Indus Water Treaty has stood the test of time for more than five decades. There is value to utilising the existing provisions of the treaty for more optimal use of the water resources of the Indus River Basin.
9. The challenges of water scarcity and environment degradation must be addressed at the regional level.
These recommendations were accepted unanimously.
10. There is a need to develop an integrated energy plan for the provision of electricity and natural gas for South Asia.
11. The two countries should provide a level playing field to one another to boost trade and economic ties. For this, Islamabad should work to give most favored nation status to India, while New Delhi should remove the non-tariff barriers that will ensure a multi-fold increase in mutually beneficial trade.
12. There is a need to take bold initiatives in order to liberalise visa regime between the two countries. Practices like police reporting and city-specific visas should be done away with.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Small steps
The long-delayed press conference by Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and our Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the end of yesterday's talks was low ke
.....more
Foreign ministers to consider petitions against visa restrictions
Bureaucratic hurdles keep blood relations apart
By Noor Aftab
ISLAMABAD: Living away from blood relations is not more painful for Nazima Babar Reshi, .....more
Bureaucratic hurdles keep blood relations apartBy Noor Aftab
ISLAMABAD: Living away from blood relations is not more painful for Nazima Babar Reshi, .....more
India, Pakistan to take trust building process forward
ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan had what they called a prolonged discussions aimed at paving the way for serious, comprehensive and sustained dialo
.....more
ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan had what they called a prolonged discussions aimed at paving the way for serious, comprehensive and sustained dialo
.....more
LETTER
What good is a dead body...
Beena Sarwar's article "What good is a dead body…" (July 4) truly depicted my frustration on failure of my efforts in moving a .....more
Beena Sarwar's article "What good is a dead body…" (July 4) truly depicted my frustration on failure of my efforts in moving a .....more
'Krishna arrives with 'message of peace'
Says India wants to resolve all issues through dialogue; India blames ISI for Mumbai attacks
By Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: India's External Affairs .....more
Says India wants to resolve all issues through dialogue; India blames ISI for Mumbai attacksBy Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: India's External Affairs .....more
Krishna in Pakistan with 'message of peace and friendship'
ISLAMABAD: Indian Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna upon his arrival here on Wednesday said the aim of his current visit to Pakistan is to convey a message of pea
.....more
ISLAMABAD: Indian Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna upon his arrival here on Wednesday said the aim of his current visit to Pakistan is to convey a message of pea
.....more Page 141 of 174
Special Editions
more editions
The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
Blog
more
For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
Global Media
Comments