'Pakistan, India should focus on common problems'
By Myra Imran
Islamabad: Instead of acting like adversaries with two different sets of views, Pakistan and India need to focus on common problems, common ambitions and common dreams for a better future of not only the two countries but also for the progress of Asia as a region.
This was stated by Dr Humayun Khan, a distinguished bureaucrat, former foreign secretary and Ambassador to India and a committed supporter of Pakistan-India peace process in his talk on 'Pakistan-India relations and the need to stay engaged in peace talks to find a way forward.'
He said that the 21st century is the Asian century provided Asia can get together. "The turbulent South Asia is the biggest block in way of united Asia," he said adding that South Asia can get the benefits of this resurgence only if it succeeds in building bridges for the progress of all.
Talking to The News, he termed 'Aman Ki Asha' a wonderful initiative of two important media groups and said that positive and constructive role of the media is a key factor in establishing peaceful relationship between India and Pakistan. "In the past, the media on both sides was never supportive of the idea of building peaceful relationship between the two countries."
Since media enjoys great influence on public opinion and policy-making, he suggested that it should publicise more positive and less inflammatory approach to promote friendship between the two countries. "This initiative is a very positive development and can play a vital role in easing the environment of distrust between the two countries."
"People-to-people contact can change things only if civil society in Pakistan gets organised to exert itself as a pillar of state," he pointed out, adding that if civil society becomes united, many issues can be solved.
He said that both India and Pakistan are afraid that the other country will violate the Indus Water Treaty. "Problem is shortage of water that is affecting the whole region and there is a need for stronger cooperation for water preservation and development of water resources but mutual distrust makes it difficult to work on a more imaginative solution to tackle the situation in a more responsible way," he said.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Islamabad: Instead of acting like adversaries with two different sets of views, Pakistan and India need to focus on common problems, common ambitions and common dreams for a better future of not only the two countries but also for the progress of Asia as a region.
This was stated by Dr Humayun Khan, a distinguished bureaucrat, former foreign secretary and Ambassador to India and a committed supporter of Pakistan-India peace process in his talk on 'Pakistan-India relations and the need to stay engaged in peace talks to find a way forward.'
He said that the 21st century is the Asian century provided Asia can get together. "The turbulent South Asia is the biggest block in way of united Asia," he said adding that South Asia can get the benefits of this resurgence only if it succeeds in building bridges for the progress of all.
Talking to The News, he termed 'Aman Ki Asha' a wonderful initiative of two important media groups and said that positive and constructive role of the media is a key factor in establishing peaceful relationship between India and Pakistan. "In the past, the media on both sides was never supportive of the idea of building peaceful relationship between the two countries."
Since media enjoys great influence on public opinion and policy-making, he suggested that it should publicise more positive and less inflammatory approach to promote friendship between the two countries. "This initiative is a very positive development and can play a vital role in easing the environment of distrust between the two countries."
"People-to-people contact can change things only if civil society in Pakistan gets organised to exert itself as a pillar of state," he pointed out, adding that if civil society becomes united, many issues can be solved.
He said that both India and Pakistan are afraid that the other country will violate the Indus Water Treaty. "Problem is shortage of water that is affecting the whole region and there is a need for stronger cooperation for water preservation and development of water resources but mutual distrust makes it difficult to work on a more imaginative solution to tackle the situation in a more responsible way," he said.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
An old man's plea:Let us meet
An online video about Sikhs looking after a mosque built by his ancestors inspires
An online video about Sikhs looking after a mosque built by his ancestors inspires
the writer to re-connect with his past across the border
By Syed Saadat Hu
.....more
My meeting with Nawaz Sharif
Adi Godrej
I had the opportunity to lead an 80-member high-level business delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to Pakistan in May 2012 f .....more
Adi GodrejI had the opportunity to lead an 80-member high-level business delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to Pakistan in May 2012 f .....more
BriefS
RIP Asghar Ali Engineer
Asoft spoken, gentle and unassuming person, always clad in a .....more
RIP Asghar Ali Engineer
A legacy of peace, rational thinking,
communal harmony
Asoft spoken, gentle and unassuming person, always clad in a .....more
Testimonials
"Pakistan-India relations have been strained for decades due to a number of well known issues - Kashmir, water, sporadic skirmis .....more
Time to douse the fire
"Pakistan-India relations have been strained for decades due to a number of well known issues - Kashmir, water, sporadic skirmis .....more
Quenching the thirst for peace
"It saddens me that we have neighbours that we can't even go visit." "The .....more
An innovative idea connects Indians and Pakistanis with 'the other side'
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Aman ki Asha: Profit of peace
Congratulating Nawaz Sharif on the electoral win of his political party, Aman ki Asha's plea to both governments continues to be: "Stay the course". Let the people re .....more
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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
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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
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