Indian delegation in Lahore to pursue peace Two ex-admirals, ex-foreign secretary, writers and media persons to share 'A Common Destiny' with Pakistanis
By Shahab Ansari

LAHORE: A seven-member high profile Indian delegation, comprising media persons, writers, retired admirals and a former top diplomat, arrived here to participate in the Aman Ki Asha series of discussions - "A Common Destiny."

This unique initiative of the 'Jang Group' and the 'Times of India' brings together people who are leaders in their respective fields. Former Indian foreign secretary Salman Haider, Prem Shankar Jha, Amitabh Mattoo, Admiral Ramu Ramdas (retd) are other members of the delegation.

Talking to The News after their arrival, Admiral Nayyar, who spent his childhood in Lahore, described his journey to Lahore "going from one home to another." He said: "We have become prisoners of our history and the challenge for us now is to get out of this prisoner mindset to struggle for peace."

He said he had been pursuing 'Aman Ki Asha' for the last 21 years. He believed that the present initiative would help realise the dream of Peace. However, he added, "There are two major challenges: first, to realize our own mistakes, and, second, to come out of the shadows of the prisoner mindset, a legacy of our history," he said.

He termed Gen Asad Durrani (retd) his 'peace-brother' as he too was working for peace. Adm Nayyar said that as far as Pakistani president and prime minister were concerned, there was not even an iota of doubt about their sincerity for a lasting peace.

Emphasizing the importance of patience and perseverance, he said the peace process was time-consuming. He said meetings like this would certainly bear fruit. He said, "No one knows the horrors and cost of war better than a soldier and its same for the soldiers of both the sides."

Gen Durrani, the moderator of the entire series of the Aman Ki Asha initiative, termed it a search for peace, naming the whole process as "Let's Talk" (Ao Baat Kurain).

From Pakistan, delegates include Aitzaz Ahsan, Dr. Mubashir Hasan, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, I.A. Rehman, Sherry Rehman, Arif Nizami, Shafqat Mahmood. Some of the delegates will be available for question sessions on the 23rd of April between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

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