LSE dialogue suggests mechanisms to solve issues between India, Pakistan

LONDON: The London School of Economics Pakistan Development Society and LSE South Asia Society held a first of its kind student driven dialogue on Kashmir at LSE. The dialogue was supported and backed by The News International, Pakistan’s biggest English newspaper. Selected and shortlisted students from Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, SOAS, UCL, Exeter and Kings were chosen to represent all important Stakeholders-India, Pakistan, Kashmiri separatists and

various international bodies such as UNMOGIP and UNSC, says a press release.

The dialogue included heated arguments on issues of human rights, ceasefire violation and boundary dispute over Kashmir. Problems were acknowledged by both the Pakistani and Indian panels.

Indian panel admitted to improving civilian accountability of crimes committed by certain individuals of the armed forces, improving transparency whereas Pakistani panel conceded that there was need to eradicate certain extremist elements inside disputed Kashmir.

Members of Pakistan and India panel eventually reached a conclusion on developing a mechanism aimed at achieving a solution in the future with relevant input and guidance from the Kashmir and International observers.

The best speaker was shared between RazaNazar from Pakistan and Arjun Chawla of India. The concluding session of the dialogue had the Editor, The News International Aamir Ghauri and London correspondent of The Hindu Vidya Ram provide insight on why Indian and Pakistani governments have failed to resume dialogue on Kashmir and possible ways forward. Audience asked interesting and engaging questions.

President of South Asia Society, Siddharth Sinha said that dialogue at a grassroots level dialogue will facilitate better relations and establishing peace in the future since many of the participants would go on to take up major positions in society.

The President of the Pakistan Development Society, Omer Azhar claimed that only if ideas and reservations were heard from both sides of the border could there be a solution.