Islamabad: PILDAT has welcomed the meeting between the Speaker
National Assembly of Pakistan Dr. Fehmida Mirza and her Indian
counterpart Ms. Meira Kumar, Speaker Lok Sabha, India, that has
reportedly taken place in Delhi on July 11, 2011 on the sidelines of
the 5th Summit Conference of the SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians
held from July 09-12, 2011 in New Delhi, India.
As an
independent Pakistani think tank working to promote interaction between
Parliamentarians of Pakistan and India, PILDAT has said that the two
Speakers agreement to employ Parliamentary diplomacy through
Parliamentary interaction between the two neighboring countries is a
step in the right direction. During the Speakers meeting a need for
enhanced Parliamentary interaction between Pakistan and India was
recognized. PILDAT also welcomed Dr. Fehmida Mirza’s reported
invitation to Ms. Meira Kumar to attend the 7th Women Speakers’
Conference to be held in Pakistan from November 15-17, 2011 and urged
that such exchange and interaction between Parliamentary leadership as
well as Parliamentarians from two sides will strengthen the initiative
of peace.
PILDAT also lauded the establishment of
Pakistan-India Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Lok Sabha
following Pakistan’s pattern as reportedly stated by the Speaker Lok
Sabha in her meeting with Dr. Mirza. An All-Party Parliamentary
Friendship Group on India was established by the Speaker National
Assembly last year in Pakistan.
PILDAT believes that the
Dialogue is the only way forward in addressing the issues and improving
bilateral relations. "Parliamentarians can play a positive role in
bridging the gap between the two countries for better understanding and
friendship," believes PILDAT. Online
