'India should set up parliamentary committee'

New Delhi,Oct 31: Pakistan's top opposition leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed today suggested India and Pakistan should discard official level talks and instead set up parliamentary committees to resolve their long standing bilateral disputes.

"The parliamentarians would be more effective and meaningful than official committees and can be more pragmatic in adddressing the issues" senior leader of the Muthaida Majlis Amal told newsmen here.He is accompanied by prominent leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party(PPP) Chaudhry Manzoor.

The two leaders came here in connection with the inter-faith dialogue meeting. They also held talks with prominent CPM leaders Hanan Mulla, Niloipath Basu, Mohammed Salim and Mohammed Yousaf Tarigami meet, besides veteran Gandhian Dr Nirmaladesh Pande.

The MMA leader said it is Parliament of the two countries, which have to give approval to agreements on bilateral issues. He however, admitted Pakistan army has also a role to play in the talks.

Officials could be involved for assisting the parliamentarians Hafiz Hussain Ahmed also suggested the leadership of India and Pakistan to work jointly in Afghanistan for bringing about stability in the volatile nation. If Afghanistan is not stable and peaceful, it will have repurcussions on the security of Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan".

Afghanistan has become source of terrorism in the region. It is therefore necessary for both nations to join hands to usher in an era of peace and stability there. He said foreign interference in Afghanistan should come to an end.

Chauddhry Manzoor said hunger and backwardness are major challenges before the two countries. Instead of spending billions on arms purchase, the two countries should focus on education and development.

CPM leader Mr Tarigami said there was an urgent need to facilitate return of several thousand kashmiri youth from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK), who crossed over there for training, but were abandoned by their masters. He said these youngmen are in very bad conditions in the PoK. Some mechanism needs to be evolved to bring them back.

Mr Tarigami also favoured liberalisation of visa regime for Kashmiris. The bus journey can be undertaken by only members of the divided family. It needs to be liberalised so that other people could also avail of this facility.

He also favoured extension of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is necessary for restoring peace in the state.

UNI

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