NEW DELHI: Terming people to people contacts between India and Pakistan as the single-most important confidence building measure (CBM)", Parliamentarians from the two countries have favoured opening of new transit routes across the Line of Control (LoC) and additional flights.
A joint statement issued at the end of the second round of Pak-India Parliamentarians Dialogue in New Delhi, listed issues, which can be solved at the level of Parliaments of both the countries. "People to people contacts were recognized as the single most important CBM. Recommendations were made to implement the agreement for opening new transit routes across the LoC in Kashmir and Khokhrapar-Munabao along with commencing additional flights," the statement said.
The two-day long conference, which began on Thursday, was jointly chaired by Member of Indian Parliament, Yashwant Sinha, and Pakistani Senator, Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali. The first round of the discussions was held in January this year in Islamabad.
"This was informal getting together of the MPs. On both sides, Parliaments have now decided to have MPs constitute a friendship group. In future I am hoping that group in both the Parliaments will be able to carry forward the work that we have done," Yashwant Sinha told media men.
Deputy Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly, Faisal Karim Kundi said, "Parliamentarians on both sides have decided to move ahead of the past and look at the future. There are things, which can be solved at their level. Irrespective of decisions taken by our Governments, MPs must interact." He said that this second round of dialogue had achieved a lot and hoped that the people of both nations would soon hear some good news.
While the two sides stressed on consolidating the outcome of the dialogue, taking place between them for over last 14 years, they agreed that all the outstanding issues between them including Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek should also be addressed urgently. On addressing Pakistan's concerns on issue of water, the MPs urged both Governments to address it within the framework of Indus Water Treaty to ensure cooperation and a joint approach. The delegates agreed to discuss the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.
Copyright NNI (News Network International), 2011
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