The 6th Delhi Dialogue was the result of collaboration between the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) and Islamabad based Jinnah Institute (JI). The conference was held for the sixth consecutive year, and continued in its aim to promote peace between India and Pakistan through Track II diplomacy.
The conference brought together senior parliamentarians, diplomats, senior media-persons and policy experts who adopted the following statement after two days of intense deliberations.
The participants expressed their deep concern at the deterioration of relations and the absence of a structured dialogue between the two governments, particularly when it was most needed.
There was disquiet over the recurring breakdown of the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC) and beyond, which had led to the deaths and the disruptions of the lives of innocent civilians on both sides.
The forum emphasised the need for continuous and constructive engagement between India and Pakistan and the respective governments on all issues and at all levels.
“The next SAARC summit in Pakistan offers an opportunity for meetings at the highest level to seriously discuss all bilateral and regional issues,” the participants noted, strongly recommending that the fullest possible use be made of this opportunity to revive and give fresh impetus to bilateral relations.
They noted that terrorism was a common threat for the entire region and called upon India and Pakistan to cooperate effectively in combating it.
It also called for restarting the stalled India-Pakistan dialogue with utmost urgency and cover all relevant issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.
The two sides should also adhere to the ceasefire of 2003 on the LoC and Working Boundary.
The participants thank CDR and JI for carrying forward the process and urge both the states to support the continuation of persons of both countries.
The delegates included Sherry Rehman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, Shafqat Kakakhel, Salman Bashir, Shah Ghulam Qadir, Zahid Hussain, Saleem Khan, Marvi Sirmed and Syed Hassan Akbar.
From Indian side, Wajahat Habibullah, Salman Haidar, S K Lambah, Satyabrata Pal, M. Yousuf Tarigami, Sidharth Varadarajan, Rekha Chowdhury, Seema Mustafa, Gowhar Geelani and Sushobha Barve participated in the dialogue.
