Civil society activists from India and Pakistan have participated in a two-day Track-II dialogue held here to resolve the differences, the first such interaction after the Pulwama terror attack that strained the ties between the two neighbours.
The dialogue titled ‘Beyond Politics and Polemics NewBeginning on a Difficult Trail’ was organised by the Islamabad-based think tankRegional Peace Institute (RPI).
It came ahead of a meeting on Sunday between the officialsof both countries at the Attari-Wagah border on the Kartarpur corridor.
Though there was no formal communique issued, RPI chiefexecutive Raoof Hassan said in a tweet that the two sides were trying forpeace.
“Here we are finally trying to untangle the trickyknot! It is always the scent of possibilities that sustains my hope for thefuture. Let’s do a toast to a tomorrow of peace and reconciliation,” hesaid.
The organisers said six delegates from India participated inthe interaction on Friday and Saturday and discussed issues like security,trade and people-to-people contacts.
The theme of the first session was ‘With young leading thecharge – discovering new paths for reconciliation and progress’.
The topic for the second session was on ‘Moving to overcomechallenges — formulating a vision of the future’. Another session was titled’Commonality of stakes — Connectivity as the gateway to development’.
It was the first such interaction after the Pulwama attack which brought the two counties to the brink of war. The second round of Track-II dialogue will take place in New Delhi in September this year. PTI