Expressing concern over the declining trade between India and Pakistan due to escalation in tensions along the borders in recent months, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood on Tuesday stressed the need for concerted efforts on both sides to ease tensions through people-centric measures.
At an informal meet here, both Capt. Amarinder and Mr. Mahmood agreed that the downslide in trade was detrimental to both the countries.
While Capt. Amarinder favoured reviving the Indo-Pak Punjab games, saying sporting events could play a pivotal role in boosting people-to-people relations on both sides of the Punjab border, Mr. Mahmood said that more people-level contacts between the two nations could help pave the way for long-term peace and stability in the region.
Spirit of harmony
“It was important for the development and progress of both the countries that they work in a spirit of harmony to promote the welfare of their respective people,” said Mr. Mahmood.
The games that were launched in 2004 from Patiala included hockey, cycling, athletics, gymnastics, polo, handball, wrestling, badminton, volleyball, tug-of-war, shooting and kabaddi.
Capt. Amaridner said that the enthusiasm with which these were received by sports persons and others from both sides was remarkable.
Prisoners’ repatriation
Mr. Mahmood raised the issue of repatriation of prisoners from both sides who had completed their terms, saying that the clearances should be expedited for the purpose.
An official statement said that both Capt. Amarinder and Mr. Mahmood underscored the need for promoting bilateral trade as a means to further the peace process, and also strengthen the fundamentals in both the countries to facilitate their economic and social development.
“They agreed that both India and Pakistan could ill-afford to alienate themselves from each other in the transforming global milieu, where the two nations were faced with many common threats and enemies,” said the statement.
Mr. Mahmood, also met Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and pointed out that as there are lot of similarities between the countries, there should be an exchange from both sides in the field of sports and culture so as to strengthen bilateral relations.
