“California Declaration
for Peace” between India and Pakistan
San Francisco, New Delhi, Lahore,, East
Lansing: The recent visits to The San Francisco Bay Area by
two prominent Indian and Pakistani leaders - Mr. Harsh Mander,
member of “Act Now for Harmony and Democracy*”
(ANHAD), and Mr. Abid Hassan Minto, President, National Workers
Party of Pakistan* (NWP-PK) - has resulted in a joint commitment
by the two organizations to help “broaden, deepen, and
strengthen” the peace process between India and Pakistan.
The signatories to the document entitled “California
Declaration for Peace in South Asia” include Act Now
for Harmony and Democracy* (ANHAD), National Workers Party*
(NWP-PK), Nonresident Indians for Secularism and Harmonious
India* (NRI-SAHI), and the Pakistan American Democratic Forum*
(PADF).
This civilian initiative seeks to involve those groups from
both nations that have been tirelessly working for peace since
independence of the two countries from Great Britain in 1947,
and are least likely to be swayed by changes in global or
regional agendas.
These groups want to help create a mindset for peace based
on achievable milestones such as an end to arms race, protection
for minorities, and resolution of outstanding conflicts by
peaceful means. The main purpose of this statement is: 1)
to deepen people-to-people contact, 2) widen and strengthen
the peace process by engaging new groups as well as those
who have been working for peace in South Asia, and 3) provide
additional moral, intellectual, social and cultural resources
to help build lasting peace.
The joint statement inter alia reads:
“We welcome and support composite dialogue between Pakistan
and India aimed at establishing just and lasting peace in
the region.
2 “We believe that the final settlement between India
and Pakistan should be based on the Five Principles of Peaceful
Co-Existence, namely, sovereign equality, non-aggression,
non-interference, reciprocal and mutual benefit, and peaceful
co-existence
3. “The final settlement should also enshrine the 10
principles of the Bandung Conference of 1955 with particular
emphasis on “settlement of all international disputes
by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration
or judicial settlement, as well as other peaceful means of
the parties own choice, in conformity with the Charter of
the United Nations”; and “respect for justice
and international obligations.”
4.“Any creative, out-of-the-box, peaceful, just and
lasting solution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue must incorporate
five key factors: 1) genuine interests of all parties, 2)
rights of religious and ethnic minorities, 3) equitable distribution
of resources, most importantly water 4) overall stability,
and 5) regional cooperation.
5. “Respect for existing treaties will be paramount
in building confidence and finding a lasting solution. The
Indus Water Treaty (IWT) signed by India and Pakistan in 1960
assigned the three eastern rivers, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas to
India, and three western rivers, Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab
to Pakistan. This treaty provides a useful framework to resolve
serious and substantial differences over India’s 11
water management projects on rivers Chenab and Jhelum.
6. “Continued frank dialogue between Indian-Americans
and Pakistani-Americans will help connect the peace process
to a shared vision, mutually agreed criteria, thoughtfully
identified milestones, and measurable outcomes. …”
7. “Advance democracy
and strengthen democratic institutions throughout the region
to ensure good governance.
8. “Foster greater economic
engagement, cultural interaction and people-to-people contacts
in the region.
9. “Invest in cross-border
infrastructure projects for energy, transport and water resources…”
10. “Invest in special
funds and programs for poverty alleviation, health care, education
and environment management.
11. Affirm mutual commitment
to respect and uphold rights of ethnic and religious minorities
in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
12. Draw upon regional as well
as international support, expertise, and resources to develop
innovative mechanisms to protect human rights and promote
regional cooperation.
13. Set up a “draw down”
schedule for gradual reduction in military budgets and arms
race.
14. Promote an overall
environment of peace and mutual support in the region based
upon respect for sovereign equality among nations.
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