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Dallas peace moot to have lasting impacts: Dr Abbas
Raja Zahid Akhtar KhanzadaDALLAS, Texas: Chair of the First South Asia Peace Conference and Asst Dean at the University of North Texas Dr. Qaisar Abbas has said the conference, attended by diplomats, scholars and activists, will have long standing effects and its recommendation will go a long way in resolving critical issues in the region.
Talking to GEO News, Jang and the news correspondent after the conference, he said, South Asia is a hotspot in the world after the Middle East with its interstate and intra-state conflicts and ethnic, cultural and national tensions.
Peace is a paramount issue not only for South Asia but the whole world and the Conference was organized within the same context with an objective to provide a single platform to scholars, diplomats, researchers and journalists, he further elaborated.
“While Asia is emerging as an important world region economically and politically, establishing peace remains a monumental challenge for South Asians. Home to the two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, the region also has two nuclear giants Russia and China in a close proximity. These circumstances pose huge challenges for South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka” he said.
He remarked that the conference has also involved the South Asian diasporas in North Texas for the first time by including them in its sessions, events and presentations realizing that they can be highly effective in establishing long term peace back home in their societies.
He said,two South Asian ambassadors addressed the conference as distinguished speakers separately. Afghanistan’s ambassador Eklil Hakimi and ambassador of Pakistan Husain Haqqani were well received by the audience.
Both emphasized on regional collaboration and working together for a bright future. Additionally a known activist from India Dr. Sandeep Pandey and a women’s activist from Pakistan Shahnaz Bukhari focused on the issues of the poor masses in our countries including youth, men and women, into the body politics of the region, he explained.
Known scholars including Kamran Asdar Ali, Arvind Singhal, Syed Minhajul Hasan, Indira Junghare, Mahmoud Sadri, Ramakrishna Puligandla, Dr. Amanullah Khan, Viadya Gundlapet, George James, David Mason and Snehal Shingavi presented research papers in different sessions.
Different departments of the university including the Provost’s Office, and the Peace Studies Program sponsored the conference. Dr. Qaisar Abbas hopes the conference will be offered every year.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv