‘Peace will elude subcontinent till K-issue resolved’

2-DAY KASHMIR CONFERENCE ENDS

NISAR A THOKAR

Muzaffarabad, May 25: The 2-day International Kashmir Conference, hosted by the University of PaK, concluded here last night with all delegates unanimously agreeing upon that peace would continue to elude the subcontinent till Kashmir dispute was resolved.

 While deliberating on different dimensions of Kashmir dispute the eminent delegates from India, Pakistan, UK and Turkey came up with some concrete and thoughtful ideas and stressed the need for a flexible, realistic and pragmatic approach to settle the lingering Kashmir dispute that happens to be a stumbling block in the way of peace in the subcontinent.

 Kashmir dispute, they said, was primarily the issue of Right to Self-determination of more than 17 million people of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir saying that the habitats of the state have been the worst victims of this deadly conflict.

 However, they opined that the issue involves life and future of billions of people of South Asia as it continues to bedevil relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals, India and Pakistan besides marring the region’s socio-economic development.

 The denial of the Right to Self Determination (RSD) to Kashmiris has led to war hysteria and uncertainty that has pushed the entire subcontinent into a quagmire of insecurity and uncertainty.

 Speaking at the preliminary session, the Executive Director of Kashmiri American Council, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fair, said that the self-determination of the people is a basic principal and essence of the UN charter which has been reaffirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and applied countless times to the settlement of international disputes.

 The concept, he said played significant part in settling border disputes after World War I and attained greater importance after the Second World War. Quoting Article 1.2 of the UN charter he said that the principle of equal rights and self-determination was set as criterion to forge friendly relations amongst the nations.

 As for as the solution of the problem is concerned he said, “There is no international dispute which is not complex, if there is an interest in a settlement, the complexity becomes a motivating factor”.

 “If there is no interest, then it becomes an instrument of passivity and inaction”, he added.

  Executive Director of Justice Foundation, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl said, “The history of the state of Jammu and Kashmir reveals that its people have never given-up their claim to the right to self-determination.”

 “The entire State of JK” he said, “Is a disputed territory. India and Pakistan need to recognize the heterogeneous character of Jammu and Kashmir and help towards starting an intra and inter state dialogue to for a greater consensus.”

 On the issue of Kashmir and human rights, the National Defence University (NDU) Professor Muhammad Khan said that “draconian laws” enforced in Jammu Kashmir were the main cause of rights violations.

 Referring to world human rights bodies he said that the Amnesty International, US state Department, the UN special Rapporteur had exposed the gross human rights abuses “perpetrated by armed forces in Kashmir.”

 He said that irrespective of the political and religious dimensions Kashmir has a humanitarian/ human dimension that need to be addressed as the people of state have suffered terribly for last several years.

 Regarding to media’s role and Kashmir dispute, GK columnist Z G Muhammad said, “Had Indian media presented Kashmir issue in its right perspective, political leadership in India could have thought differently as far as Kashmir issue is concerned”.

 He said that today, there were many saner and sincere voices in the Indian media but one can’t really deny the fact that the media had played overall a “dubious role” regarding Kashmir and had wrongly supported the policies of the government.

 Referring to the founder of National Conference late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, Zahid said, “He happened to be the hero of India and within no time he became a villainous character.”

 Recalling the Kunan Posh Pora mass rape incident, Zahid said, “Indian media camouflaged the whole story rather than exposing the culprits involved in the heinous crime.”

 However he stated that there were big names in Indian media and the civil society like Arundhati Roy, Seema Mustafa and several others who took the lead and did not hesitate to call a spade a spade.

 He said that same was the case with Pakistani media. “Nobody even challenged Musharraf’s 4-point formula and the media toed his line”, he said
 Senior journalist Seema Mustafa said that corporate controlled media was one of the major issues in the modern world, which has unfortunately failed to raise the issues in right direction and in its right perspective. “A free-fair and independent media can only help out to spotlight the issues like Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan are using imperialistic tools to divide the people of Kashmir.”

 Drawing parallels between Indian and Pakistan she said that both
the countries had “rigged  local elections” to bring into power “such people who follow their agenda.”

 She said New Delhi and Islamabad feel comfortable when they have their favourites run the administrative affairs in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. She pointed out that the people of Gilgit Baltistan were denied of the fundamental rights for a very long time.

 People of Kashmir, she said don’t want to go with either of the states India or Pakistan. “The youth in Kashmir are looking for freedom, they are against the status quo”, she said adding that the assurances and pledges made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir were not fulfilled.

 She said that Indian army had no role in politics and they have no right to interfere into political affairs of the country whatsoever.

 Professor Kamal Chenoy said that improving and expanding people to people dialogue repealing of “black laws,” ensuring the basic fundamental rights of Kashmiri people and engaging political as well as the civil society at different levels can really help to move down to peace in the region.  Chenoy out rightly denounced the “draconian laws” prevalent in the state.

 Chenoy said that Kashmir is an international problem and could be resolved provided the concerned parties to the dispute demonstrate magnanimity and flexibility. He was of the view that status-quo was not acceptable to the people of Kashmir and therefore an out of the box political arrangement was must to address the issue.

 He suggested a political solution that gives substantial autonomy to the region could be worked out. “There could be amendments in the Article 370 whereby the people of Kashmir can be empowered. Under this arrangement only two subjects (Defence and Foreign Affairs) can remain under Indian control whereas people of Jammu and Kashmir can have their own flag and even of their own currency,” Chenoy suggested

 He said that a joint Kashmir Council can be established and empowered that can help to restore cultural unity of the divided state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, he said that while talking about shared sovereignty it means both Indian and Pakistan will have some sort of control over the territories.

 He stated that the nationalism and jingoism won’t really work, “We will have to make some sort of compromises, and some give and take is needed to address the problem”.

 “Azadi” he said is demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and what shape does it take is a big question to answer at the moment”.

 Veteran Kashmiri leader and a known jurist and Justice ( retired) Majeed Malik said that Kashmir was not only an issue of the people of Kashmir but it is an issue between India and Pakistan.

 He said that Simla Agreement reduced the scope of Kashmir issue making it a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. Bilateralism he said had unfortunately eliminated the role of Kashmiris though they happen to be the principal party to the dispute.

  Responding to Prof. Chenoy’s remarks regarding the shared sovereignty of the state he said it was not acceptable to the people of Kashmir because we have seen that “husband of two wives remains hungry.”

  APHC-G convener, Ghulam Muhammad Safi said Kashmiris want peace but peace with dignity and honour. He said no country whatsoever has the right to decide the fate of Kashmir saying that it were the people of Kashmir who were granted the right to determine the political future through a free, fair and impartial plebsice.

 Terming unity as key to success Safi agreed that there were some weaknesses in Kashmiri leadership and hoped that time was not far when we will have one leadership and one agenda.

  APHC representative Faiz Naqashbandi said that the implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir was the best way to settle Kashmir issue. He said that Kashmiri leadership believes that tripartite talks could lead to a peaceful settlement of the issue.

 Shujat Bukhari, Zaffar Chudhary and Murtaza Shibili shared the same views.

Mian Manzoor Watto the federal minister for Kashmir Affairs said that Pakistan strongly believes in the UN resolutions and won’t allow any solution that would be unacceptable to the people of Kashmir.

 Referring to the sacrifices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir he said that the incumbent democratic dispensation in Islamabad cannot ignore aspirations of Kashmiri people.

 The panellists also urged the respective governments of India and Pakistan to empower people of Jammu and Kashmir thereby including their genuine representatives in the talks process to make it a credible and result-oriented exercise.

  They said India must bring an end to all cycles of violence in Kashmir, release political prisoners and revoke the “draconian laws” enforced in the state. India should also restore the right of peaceful association, assembly and demonstrations and let Kashmiri leadership travel abroad without any hindrance.

“This is high time that the peace loving nations come forward in a big way to help resolve Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in South Asia”, they maintained.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE

• Denial of RSD has led to war hysteria

• Indo-Pak need to recognize heterogeneous character of JK

• Address humanitarian, human dimensions

• Indo- Pak using imperialistic tools to divide people

• Kashmiri youth against status quo

• End all cycles of violence, release political prisoners

Kashmir key to regional peace: Gilani

International Conference Begins At PaK University

NISAR THOKAR

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Muzaffarabad, May 23: Terming Kashmir as key to regional peace, Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that socio-economic development in South Asia was inescapably linked to the settlement of the long-outstanding issue.
“Finding out an amicable solution to the core issue of Kashmir, lasting peace and economic prosperity in the whole region is absolutely interlinked”, Prime Minister Gillani said this while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day international conference on Kashmir here today, which is being organized by Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK) University and attended by the eminent delegates from India, Pakistan, UK and across the divided state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reaffirming his country’s political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmir, he said that it was high time that the world community should come forward to help resolve the dispute peacefully.
Regarding the resumption of talks, he said India and Pakistan have resumed the dialogue and the process should go on so that the core issue of Kashmir could be settled amicably in accordance with Kashmiris’ aspirations in line with the UN charter and UN resolutions in a friendly geo-political environment. Owing to this dispute, he said, people of the entire sub-continent and in particular the people of Kashmir have terribly suffered for last several decades.
“Pakistan is a peace loving country and wants peace with all its neighbors, however peace in the sub-continent is unattainable without finding a solution to Kashmir issue”, he said adding that Pakistan wants a solution but it has to be tangible.
Expressing concern over the human rights situation in the Valley, he said, “Kashmiris are subjected to torture and are being deprived of fundamental rights.”
Despite the Karachi attack, the Pakistan PM traveled to the mountainous region to kick off the formal proceedings of the conference.
Seeking a peaceful settlement of K-dispute, federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Mian Manzoor Watto said that India and Pakistan cannot afford another war as the two countries have fought two wars in the past. He urged the Government of India to respect the UN resolutions and grant Kashmiris the internationally pledged right to settle the issue peacefully.
He said that Prime Minister Gillani’s participation shows Pakistan’s commitment and seriousness in resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Regarding the forthcoming elections in PaK, he said the incumbent democratic dispensation in Islamabad was committed to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the region.
Responding to Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s video message to the conference, he said that the day was not far when the miseries of Kashmiri people would come to end.
Raja Zulqarnain Khan, the President of PaK, said, “Kashmir is not a territorial dispute, it is about the fundamental rights of millions of Kashmiris.”  The unresolved dispute, he said, was the main reason of the lack of economic development in South Asia. He was of the view that a peaceful settlement of the decades long dispute could usher an era of peace, prosperity and economic development. “Let us turn Kashmir into a peace zone”, he said adding that it was possible only if Kashmir was resolved keeping in view the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
PaK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said that the issue of Kashmir rises from non-implementation of the grand agreement of July 1947. He said India’s ‘intransigence and unrealistic approach’ was a main hurdle in the way of peace.
Referring to the historical perspective of Kashmir imbroglio he said that India had always backed out of its commitments, which he said was the main reason that Kashmir issue was hanging around for several years.
Kashmiris, he said, wanted a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the problem. He however maintained that the India and Pakistan can achieve new levels of economic prosperity provided the core issue of Kashmir was resolved peacefully. If left unresolved, he said, the unresolved Kashmir issue can become even more complicated besides pushing the region into a morass of economic uncertainty.
Referring to the CBMs taken by the governments of India and Pakistan he said that both the governments should initiate more Kashmir-centric CBMs like setting up of joint Indo-Pak development fund to strengthen economy of the region (on both sides of LoC), education co-operation and suggested that leadership of India and Pakistan should arrange joint visits to all the three regions including Jammu & Kashmir, PaK and Gilgit Baltistan.
He also stated that LoC should be transformed into line of commerce and should be rendered irrelevant.
He also flayed the human rights violations ‘inflicted on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.’
Regarding Indian army general’s recent statements he said it was very unfortunate that after Abbotabad incident the Indians started to threaten Pakistan.
In his video message, Syed Ali Geelani urged the Government of Pakistan to stand by its principled stance on Kashmir. He also thanked the people of Pakistan and PaK for lending all out support to Kashmir cause.
Highlighting Kashmiris’ sacrifices he said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have rendered unprecedented sacrifices to get their cherished goal. He said that Kashmiris were not averse to talks but talks must be meaningful, result-oriented and Kashmir-centric. He said that unless India accepts the centrality of the core issue of Kashmir, getting engaged in a dialogue with India was a meaningless and futile exercise.
Speaking on the occasion, Kashmir American Council Executive Director, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai said, “The settlement of Kashmir is achievable if pragmatic and realistic strategy is established to help set a stage to put the Kashmir issue on the road to a settlement.”
He said, “The principle of self-determination and the maintenance of international peace and security are inseparable. The denial of this right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir has brought two neighboring countries in South Asia – India and Pakistan –to the brink of nuclear catastrophe.”
He said that since the establishment of India and Pakistan as sovereign states, Jammu and Kashmir was ‘not part of the territory of either,’ the two countries entered into an agreement to allow its people to exercise their right of self-determination under impartial auspices and in conditions free from coercion from either side.
Earlier, Habib-u-Rehman, the Vice-Chancellor of PaK University thanked the distinguished delegates for attending the conference.

Rich tributes paid to Mirwaiz and Lone

Unity key to success

Islamabad, May 21: While paying eulogizing tributes to Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and Khwaja Abdul Gilani Lone, Kashmiri leaders at a seminar organized by APHC-M here on Saturday stated that the slain leaders’ indomitable role and peerless contribution to the ongoing struggle would be remembered for a long time in the history of Kashmir.

Chaired by the amalgam’s convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, the seminar was attended by Hurriyat leaders, as well as the representatives of Kashmiri community based in the twin city Rawalpindi/Islamabad, whereas Executive Directors of Kashmir Centre in London and Washington, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl and Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai were the chief guests on the occasion.

Speakers on the occasion highlighted the supreme sacrifices of the Kashmiri martyrs renewed their pledge to uphold the mission of martyrs who they said “have sacrificed their today for our better tomorrow”. They also denounced the unabated human rights violations in Kashmir and appealed the international community to impress upon India to put an end to rights violations in the territory.

Terming unity as key to success they said that it was high time that Kashmiri leadership should burry their hatchet and forge a broad based unity so as to take the people out from the dark prospects of despondency and chaos.  

Describing dialogue as a civilized way to resolve dispute they said that Kashmiris were not averse to dialogue, however, they maintained that bilateralism had miserably failed to resolve Kashmir dispute and emphasized the need for associating genuine Kashmiri leadership with the dialogue process to settle Kashmir dispute once and for all.

They urged the Indian government to withdraw its troops, revoke draconian laws, and release all illegally detained pro-liberation leaders and activists to create a conducive atmosphere for talks to settle long-outstanding issue of Kashmir peacefully.

Referring to the changes sweeping across the world KAC chief Dr. G Nabi Fai and Professor Nazir Shawl said that owing to the unprecedented sacrifices of Kashmiri people the long-pending issue was now echoing all around the diplomatic corridors of Washington, Europe and other power centres of the world.

Referring to an article published in the New York Times on Sunday last Dr. Fai said that the article unfolded some of the private views expressed by Late Richard Holbrooke, the Obama’s point-man on south Asia, which he said were an eye-opener for the entire world. The NYT article he said that Holbrooke believed that the resolution of Kashmir dispute was must to reduce radicalism in Pakistan.

“The views of Holbrooke are indeed acknowledgment by an acclaimed diplomat that resolution of Kashmir dispute is must for success of the US-led war against terrorism in this region,” professor Shawl said.

Of those who addressed the gathering included Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai the Executive Director Kashmiri American Council, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl Executive Director Justice Foundation London, Syed Yousuf Naseem, Faiz Naqshbandi, Ghulam Nabi Nowshehri, Tahir Masood, Altaf Wani, Abdul Majeed Malik, Manzoor-ul-Haq, JKLF leader Rafiq Ahmad Dar and Sheikh Waleed Rasoo

PaK varsity to host conference on Kashmir

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, May 20: The University of Pakistan Administered Kashmir is all set to host a 2-day international conference on Kashmir from May 23 at Muzaffarabad.

The conference titled “Kashmir in Emerging Global Perspectives” would provide an opportunity to researchers, scholars and Kashmiri leaders across the divide to share their expertise and observations regarding the settlement of Kashmir in the emerging global scenario.


Participants of the conference would discuss whole gamut of issues including fresh perspectives on the issue, socio-economic impact of Kashmir issue on the region, effectiveness of  Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the human rights situation prevailing in the region. Besides eminent personalities, writers on the issue will share their scholarly work with the participants of the meeting.


Meanwhile, PaK President and the Chancellor of the University, Raja Zulqarnain Khan had a detailed meeting with Kashmir American Council chief Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai at Kashmir House here this afternoon. Both the leaders discussed in detail the arrangements being made in connection with the conference.

‘Cross LoC education cooperation can stabilize Kashmir situation’

NISAR THOKAR

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Islamabad, May 20: A study conducted jointly by Conciliation Resources (CR) and Centre for Peace Development and Reforms (CPDR) has stated that educational cooperation across the Line of Control (LoC) can serve as a catalyst for stabilizing the situation in Kashmir.

 “Exploring and nurturing cross-LoC institutional links in the field of education will lend substance to people-to-people contacts. Interaction on education could serve as a catalyst for stabilizing the situation in Kashmir. It can also act as an engine for development to create sympathetic constituencies across the LoC and thus forge enduring ties that can bridge gaps for long-term conflict resolution,” reveals the study which was released during a seminar here.

 Tahir Aziz, the Programme Manager of London based NGO (CR) said that the CR does not offer any solution to the Kashmir problem but wants people of Kashmir to get engaged in the process, which he hoped would lead them to a mutually acceptable solution.

 The non-conventional initiatives like intra-Kashmir trade or education he said had played key role in other conflict zones around the world to bring communities together which helped them to find solution of their problems.
 Speaking on the occasion, former Ambassador, Arif Kamal who contributed to the study, said that CBMs only cannot solve the political dimension of the Kashmir conflict.

 Former Ambassador and Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies,  Ashraf Jehangir Qazi lauded the publication and its contribution to promote peace across the LoC. “Educational cooperation has got the potential to play a vital role to bring people of Jammu and Kashmir closer to each other,” he said adding that Kashmir specific CBMs should be taken to create conducive environment wherein both India and Pakistan can talk with confidence and take more bold steps towards the final settlement of the Kashmir issue.

 Siddiq Wahid emphasized that uninterrupted intra-Kashmir dialogue should be initiated so that Kashmiris living on the both sides of LoC could understand each other in a better way.

 Referring to the study he said it is a comprehensive survey of educational achievements on both sides of the LoC divide in Kashmir, identifying commonalities and the potential for supplementing growth. “The study gives a broad outline of what is already available in terms of infrastructure and resources, and what could be shared to aid CBMs and help develop an agenda for educational cooperation across the divide,” he said.

KMS director’s daughter ties nuptial knot

Islamabad, May 15: The marriage ceremony of Hijab Shaheen daughter of Sheikh Tajamul-ul-Islam Director Kashmir Media Service (KMS) was solemnized here on Saturday.  

Islam’s only-daughter, a doctor by profession, got married to Islamabad based Engineer Jawad Yousuf.
Members of the Kashmiri community based in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi attended the wedding ceremony and blessed the couple. 


Besides Hurriyat representatives of both the factions, a large number of journalists, intellectuals, politicians, bureaucrats and other prominent personalities were present on the occasion.

Committed to Kashmir cause: Pak

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, May 14: Reaffirming his country’s political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmir cause, Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won’t betray Kashmiris as its foundation was laid on the basis of the Kashmir dispute.

“It was Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who had declared that Pakistan will fight a thousand-year war for Kashmir and PPP still adheres to its founder’s slogan”, Gilani said while addressing PPP workers convention at Muzaffarabad on Saturday.

He paid tributes to Kashmiri martyrs who laid down their lives during the ongoing struggle for right to self-determination. Regarding the forthcoming elections he said that free, fair and impartial elections would be held in the region. “We will strengthen democracy and democratic institutions in the area”, he said adding that PPP has not to come to power through backdoor.

About the prevailing political situation Pakistan, Gilani said the country was ready to cooperate with world powers on equal terms and on the basis of mutual trust. Highlighting Pakistan’s contribution on war against terror he said that the country had sacrificed thousands of lives in this war.

KOTLI GIRL BECOMES COUNCILOR

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

Islamabad, May 10: Tafheem Shareef has been elected as Labour Party councilor of Luton Town (Dawlu), home to largest Kashmiri Diaspora that has migrated from different areas of Pakistani administered Kashmir (PaK) and settled in the picturesque town during last several decades.


Shareef is daughter of Chaudhary Shareef, senior vice-president of Thereek-e-Hurriyat Kashmir (UK). Her parents migrated to UK from Pang-Peeran area of Kotli (PaK). She is a highly qualified social activist and professional lawyer.

Mehrun Nissa hails Kashmiri migrants’ role

Nisar Ahmed Thokar

Islamabad, May 10: The deputy speaker of PaK Legislative Assembly Mehr-un-Nissa on Tuesday hailed  Kashmiri migrants’ role in the ongoing struggle for right to self-determination.

 

“All out efforts would be made to address the problems faced by the migrant community living in various refugee camps established in the region. Leaving behind homes and hearths for a greater cause is indeed a great sacrifice,Nissa said this while addressing public gathering after visiting Kashmiri refugee camp at Bagh. She said it was indeed a great challenge but “we have the audacity to face this challenge with courage and unity”.

 

Terming the MC as a symbol of Kashmiris’ identity she said that the party had the honour to grant Kashmiri migrants the right to vote besides conceding other basic amenities to the community. She also hailed the role of local community and said that they have demonstrated the highest degree of Muslim brotherhood and solidarity with their Kashmiri brother.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Mir Akbar the former cabinet minister said that the MC regime was committed to resolve problems faced by Kashmiri migrants.  “Kashmiris are our brothers and an integral part of our society”, he added.

 

Tripartite talks must to resolve K-dispute: Sardar Attique

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad May 9: The Prime Minister of Pakistan Administered Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan on Monday said that Kashmir dispute can be resolved through tripartite talks between Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir.

“For a sustainable peace and development in south Asia the resolution of this extra-sensitive issue was essentially important”, Khan said while addressing a reception ceremony in his honour by the Councillors and members of the Pak-Kashmiri community of Luton in UK.

“To create a congenial atmosphere there is a dire need that tripartite dialogue should start at different levels to move towards conflict resolution. Majority of people in India and Pakistan feel the urgency of improvement in bilateral relations between the two neighbouring states to settle the key issues including the longstanding dispute of Kashmir”, he said.

Highlighting the vulnerability of the dispute, he said Kashmir issue can’t be kept unresolved for long.  “ Kashmir can’t be overlooked as it is surrounded by three nuclear-armed states of south Asia. Britain can play very important role to settle the Kashmir dispute peacefully,” he said.

Replying to a query, Attique said that Kashmiris are by nature peaceful and co-existentialists. “All segments of Kashmiri society lived together in perfect peace and harmony for over 700 years”, he maintained.

Speaking on the occasion Mayor Luton Tom Shaw suggested large scale cultural exchanges between UK and Pakistan and PaK to promote better understanding amongst the peoples of the two regions.