The Launch of India-Pakistan Forum of Parliamentarians
August 23, 2005, Federation House.

The India-Pakistan Forum of Parliamentarians (IPFP) was officially launched by Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs, Mr. K. Natwar Singh (in absentia) on August 23, 2005. The Forum in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) was inaugurated in the presence of Nirmala Deshpande, Chairperson of the Forum and noted Gandhian & senior Member of Parliament, Anand Sharma and Shahid Siddiqui, the Vice-Chairmen of the Forum, Onkar S. Kanwar, President, FICCI, and the Chamber's Secretary-General, Dr Amit Mitra.

The inaugural witnessed the presence of several prominent Indian Parliamentarians which included B J Panda, Dinesh Trivedi, P K Maheshwari, Saifuddin Soz, Robert Kharshiing, A R Shaheen, Balbir K Punj, Saleem Shervani, Manvendra Singh, Naveen Jindal, Madhu Goud Yaskhi, Navjot Singh Sidhu, amongst many others. Former Ministers who were present were Ravi Shankar Prasad, Vasant Sathe and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Seven prominent MPs from Pakistan traveled especially to India for this occasion. They included Sherry Rehman, M P Bhandara, Kunwar Khalid Yunus, Fauzia Wahab, Yasmeen Rehman, Shabeena Talat and Wasim Ahmed along with peace activist Karamat Ali. Others who were present at the launch included the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr Aziz Ahmed Khan, Ambassadors and High Commissioner of several countries, CEOs, diplomats, think tank experts, peace activists, and many prominent members of the civil society.

On the occasion of the launch, a message from Mr Natwar Singh, Hon'ble External Affairs Minister, formally launching the Forum, was read out by MEA official, Mr Vikas Swaroop. In his inaugural address, Mr. Singh, said "the creation of the forum, with the participation of esteemed parliamentarians from both countries was itself a reflection of change in climate in relations between the two countries, and also a manifestation of the overwhelming desire among people on both sides of the border for peace and friendship". He also mentioned that constructive and positive developments were marking a new phase in the normalization of diplomatic links, which reflected in the operationalisation of the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad bus service, the opening of the Pooch-Rawalkot and the Kargil-Skardu routes, unilateral liberalisation of the visa regime for Pakistani nationals traveling to India and the re-opening of the Consulates in Mumbai and Karachi.

The critical issue of terrorism was also raised by Mr. Singh in his address. In this regard, he categorically stated that the bilateral dialogue process hinged on Pakistan adhering to its commitment of not allowing its territory to be used for cross-border terrorism against India. That Pakistan's role in rooting out this menace would be valuable, was also put across through his address.

Welcoming the formation of the forum, Ms Nirmala Deshpande, in her opening remarks, expressed her gratitude to FICCI for making the event possible. Highlighting the importance of people-to-people contact, she devoted much of her speech to this association of parliamentarians regarding it as a very positive and significant step in all aspects. She also spoke of the necessity of having a dynamic and pro-active parliamentarians' dialogue between the two countries. "Parliamentarians are opinion makers and in this people to people contact, this movement started by people of both countries, Parliamentarians have a big role to play and I am not only hopeful but I am sure that my friend in both Houses from all political shades will do their best to see that peace comes to this sub-continent and we will have a peaceful and harmonious South Asia, sooner than later", she said.

Highlighting the objective of the Forum, Mr Onkar Kanwar in his address remarked 'The IPFP is seen as another measure to deepen and improve the relationship to a higher level through second-track diplomacy". He lauded the formation of the forum as an "initiative taken by our Parliamentarians" and credited Ms Deshpande for spearheading many initiatives to improve bilateral ties, calling her a 'crusader of peace'.

Earlier, Dr. Amit Mitra, in his remarks described the occasion as a historic one. Welcoming the Indian Parliamentarians and their counterparts from Pakistan, he commended the launch of the forum as an important platform to facilitate second track diplomacy in order to strengthen the bilateral relations.

The launch was also addressed by the visiting Parliamentarians from Pakistan. Senior Parliamentarian Mr. M. P. Bhandara, in his remarks, referring to the 'stereotyped' images of India in Pakistan, spoke of the 'new thinking' that was emerging in Pakistan and how those "stereotyped" concepts were changing in the present scenario. In his remarks he also praised India's growth. Elaborating on the importance of the ongoing peace process, he said, "We applaud the fact that the process has been started with a bus service, which is just a small step. Following the bus service, there will also be a movement of goods across, in both parts of Kashmir and then one thing will lead to another."

Laying impetus on the special relationship between Pakistan Peoples' Party and the Indian National Congress, Ms Sherry Rehman, spoke of the important role being played by the PPP, which was at the forefront of changing the architecture of conflict to build the infrastructure of peace. She read out a message from her leader and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ms Benazir Bhutto on the occasion. In her message, Ms Bhutto, welcomed the formation of the Forum and said "The Parliamentarians of the two countries meeting today on the platform of India-Pakistan Forum of Parliamentarians, have an opportunity to work for the triumph of democracy, peace, tolerance, understanding and accommodation in our region that will ultimately make history". She also stressed on the creation of constituencies for peace in the region, and reaffirmed that the same should be created to focus on areas like human development, poverty alleviation, and providing better education and other amenities.

Agreeing with the views of Ms Sherry Rehman, that barriers existed in the mind which transformed in physical structures, Mr Anand Sharma in his remarks said that these barriers in the mind had to be brought down first. Stressing on the significance of continuing the ongoing peace process, he further added, "The sheer desire of both our peoples in India and Pakistan to overcome their distrust and the barriers of yesteryears and to bring about a meaningful understanding so that face and the fate of the Sub-continent can change for the better".

Highlighting the similarities in culture and traditions between the two countries, Mr. Kunwar Khalid Yunus stressed on the essentiality of strengthening the bilateral relationship. Reiterating his party's commitment to promote economic and political relations with India, he said, "I want to assure you, specially the business community, that my Party (Muttahida Qaumi Movement), is working hard for our economic relationship, for our political relationship and one day we would succeed." He also spoke about the positive situation pertaining to the visa regimes and border crossing between India and Pakistan.

Endorsing the views expressed by Mr. Yunus, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, said that while lessons of history could be unlearned, one could never ignore the logic of geography. Agreeing with Mr. Bhandara's views that while there were issues to be taken care off, the ongoing peace process and the CBMs could not be held hostage to it. Strongly propagating that terrorism and violence be dealt with iron hands, he emphatically stated "This reckless violence today is not only India-centric, it is region centric, in fact against civilized society and therefore, we as Members of Parliament, who believe in the rule of law, have to have a collective concern, beyond the Government, Parliament and Society and I am quite sure, this great beginning today would act as a great safety valve in that direction".

Mr Hannan Mollah gave the vote of thanks. He recalled the reception accorded to him and other members of the Indian Parliamentary delegation in Pakistan, which he said was reflective of the warmth of friendship that existed between people of the two countries. The presence of cross section of society ranging from Parliamentarians in large numbers to Ambassadors, diplomats, peace activists, and others at the launch, went a long way in ensuring the importance of good relations between the two neighbours, he observed.