Tharoor, who began a four-day visit to Pakistan today, said here that if you go to the streets and talk to the ordinary people in India and Pakistan "there is no hatred and they do not want to see a war in future."
People in both countries realise that nothing can be achieved through hatred and they want to live in peace, said the former UN Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information, who who flew into Lahore with his wife Sunanda Pushkar.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too desires better relations between both countries, he added.
"The government of India desires that we live in peace. I spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before coming here and he wants both countries to live with love and peace," Tharoor said.
The former minister of state for external affairs called for boosting direct trade between the two countries, which last year resumed their peace process after a gap of nearly two years due to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
"Pakistani manufacturers and exporters can get such a big market in India. It will be good for Indian consumers to get Pakistani products," he said.
"Right now, if you want to buy Indian products in Pakistan, you have to bring them in through Dubai and there is a mark-up of two to three times the actual price," he remarked.
Sunanda, who is of Kashmiri origin, told reporters that her family had links to Lahore.
"The food here is very good. I will be happy to drink Kashmiri tea again. I want to show my husband Lahore because part of my family was from this city," she said.
After spending two days in Lahore, the couple will travel to Islamabad, where Tharoor will address a meeting to be organised on Thursday by the Jinnah Institute, a think tank founded by Pakistan People's Party leader Sherry Rehman.
Tharoor will speak on the topic 'India and Pakistan: Cooperation or conflict'.
Courtesy: The Economic Times
Friday, January 06, 2012

By Amir ZiaPakistan-India trade relations have taken some big strides over the last 12 months. What appeared impossible in April 2011 is now not onl .....more

Pakistani brands to open stores in India
Pakistani designers and branded retailers are planning to launch exclusive outlets in India as the governments .....more

COMMENT
By Shobhan Saxena
Suspicion makes people see things. Last December, when a monkey from India strayed into Pakistan, the visa-less sim .....more

Case update: Madan LalCourt seeks IG Prisons report
In response to a writ petition filed by Advocate Awais Sheikh before the Lahore High Court seeking a .....more

Faced with some uncomfortable questions at a slum in Chennai, Pakistani journalist Desiree' Francis finds parallels... and makes a resolve
I felt like .....more

It's all systems go for 'Dividends', the Second Aman ki Asha Indo-Pak Economic Conference, Lahore, May 7-8, 2012
Taking forward the 'trade for peace' agend .....morePage 60 of 175
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