Srinagar, Mar 4: Former diplomats, editors, journalists, academics and analysts from India and Pakistan have said the direct involvement and attention of the heads of both governments is must to resolve vexed Kashmir issue.     
 “Jammu and Kashmir is a complex issue. It requires the direct involvement and attention of the heads of both governments. The existing confidence building measures in the disputed territory should be implemented in letter and spirit, and should be expanded,” said the key-opinion makers from India and Pakistan who met at Colombo for the 10th Chaophraya Dialogue, organized by the Jinnah Institute (JI) and the Australia India Institute (AII). 
 They demanded that any act of violence having an impact on bilateral relations must be investigated impartially and professionally before reaching conclusions regarding their nature, perpetrators and origin.   
  “The restrictive visa procedures between both nations should be done away with to allow increased people-to-people contact,” they said.
 They also agreed the visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Pakistan would go a long way towards achieving greater stability in the bilateral dialogue, and would help enhance the pace of progress on outstanding issues between India and Pakistan.  On water security issues between the two countries, the experts suggested that both India and Pakistan continue to work within the framework of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). Meetings of the Indus Water Commission should be held more frequently than the one mandatory meeting annually.
 Discussing media, the participants agreed that it was imperative that Pakistanis and Indians benefited from impartial and well-informed reporting of news.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST