By MM Special Correspondent,
Allahabad: Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) on Sunday expressed its strong disappointment with the Indian government for cancelling the scheduled meeting of Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers on the side-lines of UN General Assembly later this month. The meeting was planned following the letters from the Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, to Indian PM Narendra Modi.
PIPFPD said in a statement that dialogue is the only answer to conflict, mistrust, and breakdown of diplomacy between the two countries. It also said it condemns all acts of violence and inhuman acts like beheading of soldiers or civilians, by state or non-state actors must to be condemned.
However, it should not be forgotten that dialogue alone is the answer to causes of acts of terror. Governments cannot be irresponsibly cancelling opportunities of dialogue, when they are most required, it added.
We sincerely believe that the dialogue should not have been cancelled as it would have provided an opportunity to interact with the new leadership of Pakistan. Dialogue is necessary as tension is growing between two countries, PIPFPD said.
It expressed the hope that the meeting of Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries will be held as scheduled as both the countries need to break the ice and see peace prevail.
UP chapter of the Forum today organized a public meeting here in which Prof Dinesh Mohan, Tapan Bose, Prof Sushil Joshi and others spoke.
Absolutely dialogue is the only educated civilised way out from this blood-thirst and hatred of extremists on both sides.
Neighbouring PM should be more pragmatic and not comment on the bureaucrats being small men in big positions. Though we know bitter truth, to get some things done–it is better to be wise rather than reactionary!
It would have been wiser to hotline PM Modiji, Rajnath Singhji or Sushmaji and try to convince them both for talks and trade.
Others will follow suit! But if BJP leadership is not willing, better to be patient till next elections in 2019.
Also neighbouring PM needs to restrain inciting sentiments like making official stamp of Burhan Wani as martyr…because that means you are not serious for dialogue.
Last thing is if there is terrorist attack on soldiers in India, it also means failure of Indian army at border/within and Home Ministry due to corruption, inadequate intelligence or less precautionary measures, have to take responsibility and take measures to prevent next time.