Recommendations on Pak-India relations finalised by NA body

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on Monday finalised research recommendations on Pakistan-India relations and opined that in order to sustain progress in the fields of peace and security, both countries should pursue the implementation of the Lahore Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and all Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) relating to security.

After deliberation and discussion on Pakistan’s relations with India, the Foreign Affairs Committee suggested policy approaches with specific policy recommendations that include selective engagement and restraint which were finalised and adopted by the committee members

The meeting of the committee was held here at the Parliament House with Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari in the chair which discussed budgetary proposals relating to PSDP in respect of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the next financial year 2016-17 and finalised research recommendations on Pakistan-India relations.

The committee agreed that Pakistan’s approach towards India should be based on the following key principles that includes reciprocity from India that may be simultaneous or sequential, reduction of trust deficit between the two countries through collaborative effort, resumption of dialogue and result oriented dialogue that must focus on resolution of conflict which will be the end result of the above three principles of engagement.

The committee suggested that Pakistan should continue to seek comprehensive engagement with India on all outstanding issues, however, in the absence of this scenario, the committee recommended the government to selectively engage with India in four key areas. Selective engagement will not only help resolve issues that are critical to Pakistan’s long-term sustainability as a nation but will do so by appealing to the needs of both countries and on a relatively equal footing.

Furthermore, initiating the resolution of conflict by taking proactive measures, Pakistan will increase its support in South Asia and the international community, giving it more political clout in the long run.

The committee opined that Pakistan should continue to call for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute as the core issue between the two countries. It said continuity of the proactive diplomacy on Kashmir on all international fora should be pursued.

A key component of Pakistan’s proactive involvement on the Kashmir issue should be lending solid moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris struggle for self-determination according to the UN resolutions.

This refers to the following policy actions that institutionalisation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement, Pakistan should not encourage calls for active support of armed, banned, militant groups in Kashmir, allaying international concerns of not doing enough to tackle alpha elements working for the Kashmiri cause, by monitoring and taking action against violent armed groups, lend support to trilateral peace process, involving Kashmiri leaders, Pakistan and India, strict border control mechanisms - automation, expansion of democratic space by tapping into civil society voices in Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as Indian Occupied
Kashmir and seek reduction in state-sponsored violence against Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

The committee urged that water issues should be discussed holistically, rather than focusing on particular projects such as Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Project. Pakistan should engage in comprehensive water diplomacy with India in the areas that include international support and Pakistan should actively highlight the violation of Indus Water Treaty by India on international forums by drawing attention towards the humanitarian aspects and how these violations are producing an adversely affecting Pakistan’s water resources and environment.

The committee suggested that Pakistan should lobby with the international governments which have environmental protection as their mandate and forums like COP21 can be ideal for this purpose and should be optimally utilised, unlike in the past. An independent office of Indus Water Commission (IWC) should be established with neutral experts from outside the South-Asian region who work directly under the supervision of the UN.

There should be a permanent liaison between Ministry of Water and Power and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to promote informed decision-making on water related issues with India. The foreign affairs committee suggested that while enhancing the capacity of the IWC, Pakistan should resume bilateral dialogue, regular meetings and talks between the Indus water commissioners to ensure regular data sharing and minimising water related conflict between the two countries. The committee said there is a need to resume secretary level dialogue between India and Pakistan on the area of water diplomacy.

In order to track availability of data and information relating to water flows, Pakistan and India need to establish a joint sophisticated forecasting system. “This will allow for real time data sharing regarding the flow of water in the rivers and tributaries of the Indus Water System. Real time data of minor, major tributaries and all head-works, etc. will be shared through the use of a website and moreover, the website must also include three dimensional models of dams,” the committee suggested.

On trade, the committee suggested that Pakistan should focus more on reducing and controlling the informal trade. The committee views that this can be done through enhancing the capacity of Custom Department and border forces. Furthermore, by relaxing the process to acquire visa, informal trade can be controlled. Pakistan should make a comprehensive trade policy which benefits its domestic market and local industries. The policy should focus on developing Pakistan’s infant industries so that they can compete with well-established industries of India.

The committee said Pakistan should capture the space available in the information technology sector within the Indian market. Moreover, the committee suggested that there is a need to expand legal trade between the two countries while discouraging informal trade. For this purpose, there is a need for testing facilities near borders. Pakistan should call for dismantling of non-tariff barriers in India, in order to create a level playing field for Pakistani products.

On the issue of the culture and communication with India, the committee suggested for the renewal of the cultural agreement 1988, stating that cultural agreement that took place between India and Pakistan which was signed in 1988 requires renewal. The committee opined that the renewal of cultural agreement should call for cooperation in the fields of arts, culture, archaeology, education, mass media and sports. For constant monitoring of this cooperation, cultural centres are to be established. Moreover, there is a need to initiate cultural and educational exchange.