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Friday, September 27, 2013
Jammu Kashmir attack : Civil society urges India, Pakistan to continue peace processKARACHI: The Pakistani and Indian civil society have welcomed and supported the resolute commitment of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to continue the peace dialogue with Pakistan, in the wake of attacks in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
Rebels struck two districts of Jammu and Kashmir early on Thursday, killing nine people including army and police officials and civilians. This happened as the Indian PM is on his way to New York for the UN General Assembly session. He will also meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is already in New York.
Condemning the attack in the strongest terms, the civil society members and peace activists from both the countries, in a statement, said that there is a definite pattern and method to derail the peace process between Pakistan and India.
“Every time a small progress is made in advancing the relations between the two countries, there is an attempt to thwart it by way of such attacks in India. There are forces present on both sides that thrive on conflict between the two nations. In the past they have largely succeeded in halting a move forward towards peace. This should not be allowed to continue as it has repeatedly hurt the two nations.”
The peace activists welcomed Indian PM Manmohan Singh’s positive posture despite a politically charged environment back home. In his tweet, he clearly expressed his commitment to lead the dialogue process.
“Such attacks would not deter us or succeed in derailing our efforts to find a resolution to all problems through a process of dialogue.”
Omar Abdullah too reiterated that “it would be a grave injustice to those killed if peace talks between India and Pakistan are suspended”.
As the prime ministers of the two countries meet later this week, the civil society forces from Pakistan and India urged the leaders to make the peace process substantive. “Both countries should sign a no-war pact without delay. It’s their non seriousness in doing so that has encouraged the anti-peace forces to continue their assault on dialogue between the two states. There are basic measures against terrorism inbuilt in the SAARC Convention on Suppression of Terrorism. Pakistan, India and other South Asian countries need to follow this with absolute commitment.” pr
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk