NEW DELHI: A group of Indian and Pakistani politicians and civil society participants, meeting on Zoom online under the aegis of the Center for Peace and Progress, urged New Delhi and Islamabad to restart dialogue, revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) process, and ease travel restrictions to rebuild trust across the border.
The online discussion brought together Dr Farooq Abdullah, patron of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Farhatullah Babar of the Pakistan Peoples Party, and Manoj Jha, an Indian member of Parliament, along with speakers from Pakistan and India who argued that stalled official channels must be supplemented by sustained people-to-people engagement.
Abdullah opened the discussion by calling for talks “to find a way forward,” saying conflict was “eating the wealth of the two nations” and that Kashmir remained one of the central points of dispute.
He argued that dialogue should not be treated as “anti-national,” and pointed to global examples where adversaries continue negotiations even amid war.
Several speakers echoed Abdullah’s call to revive SAARC, which they described as a regional platform where South Asian neighbors could meet regularly and address issues without allowing hostility between India and Pakistan to paralyze broader regional cooperation.
Babar said the core problem was that each side sets preconditions: one side says talks can resume only after militancy ends, the other insists the “core issue” must be resolved first.
With third-party mediation seen as politically unrealistic, he argued, the only workable path is to keep channels open through citizens’ initiatives, including digital meetings.
He also linked improved relations to democratic space and human rights, warning that hostility becomes “an excuse” for shrinking civic space, crushing dissent, and militarizing the state. Babar cited past diplomatic openings and confidence-building steps, including the 1999 Lahore peace initiative, later efforts by successive leaders, and the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, to argue that breakthroughs are possible even after setbacks.
Participants repeatedly returned to practical measures: easing visa regimes, reopening trade, and enabling religious and family visits.
One Pakistani participant, MNA Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, said both sides had taken hardened positions and suggested that even if “love” was not immediately possible, borders should be opened for business and travel, and the visa regime should be made less restrictive.
Ajmer Corridor
From the Indian side, Lucknow-based civil society activist Sandeep Pandey criticized what he called contradictions in policy, arguing that while India maintains extensive trade ties with China, it has shut down trade and contact with Pakistan. He urged steps such as an “Ajmer Sharif corridor,” framing religious travel as a confidence-building measure comparable to the Kartarpur arrangement.
The conversation also highlighted generational shifts and the role of social media.
Maria Iqbal Tarana, Pakistan People’s Party leader from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, described how younger people can form prejudices “before knowledge”.
She said sustained student and cultural exchanges are needed so future generations do not inherit only hostility. She argued that people in both countries share culture, language, and heritage, and warned against outsourcing South Asia’s decisions to outside powers.
An Indian participant, Brig. Mukherjee backed SAARC revival but emphasized New Delhi’s stated concern about militancy. He argued that regional pressure from other South Asian states could help push both India and Pakistan to re-activate SAARC, while also stressing that violence undermines the political space for talks.
A Pakistani participant, Mohammed Mehdi, said dialogue must address “real issues,” including militancy and Kashmir, rather than skirting core disputes. He supported using forums outside government as a bridge, but said durable outcomes require official-level engagement and “concrete decisions” so talks do not collapse every few years.
Other speakers focused on narrative-building and the media’s role. One participant called for monitoring hostile propaganda and revisiting textbook content that fosters hatred. Another argued that “state-centric narratives” shaped through education systems and television debates need to be deconstructed in favor of a pro-people approach centered on jobs, education, health, and justice rather than permanent conflict.
Manoj Jha, speaking toward the end of the meeting, described the current climate as hostile to even modest peace gestures, saying that voices calling for friendship are quickly branded.
He said progressive politics has weakened across South Asia and urged citizens to speak up against violence and majoritarianism in their own countries, arguing that building cross-border empathy through literature, music, and shared cultural life can change the atmosphere even when governments hesitate.
Measures Suggested
In concluding remarks, O.P. Shah, chairman of the Center for Peace and Progress, said the group had also placed a set of practical measures “on record” for consideration by the respective authorities as a minimum working architecture to restore regular communication and enable cooperation.
According to Shah, the proposals include:
Re-appointment of high commissioners to restore senior-level diplomatic representation and enable structured, direct communication.
Resumption of visa and consular services to create predictable channels for humanitarian, familial, and professional travel, and to facilitate essential people-to-people contact.
Reactivation of rail and bus connectivity to resume established cross-border routes and support normal civilian movement.
Revival of trade and economic exchanges to reinstate mutually beneficial commercial activity, contributing to economic stability and confidence-building.
Shah said the Center for Peace and Progress was willing to continue supporting efforts that contribute to “a steady path forward.”
As the session closed, Abdullah returned to the theme of persistence, backing proposals for journalists from both countries to meet and explore how media could play a more constructive role.
He said the group should “never give up hope,” predicting that within their lifetimes the two countries would recognize that cooperation and mutual understanding best serve ordinary people on both sides.
Organizers said they had sent letters to both prime ministers summarizing proposals discussed in earlier meetings and indicated that future sessions would focus on bringing journalists together to develop a mechanism for more responsible cross-border coverage.
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