Parliamentarians from India and Pakistan are in agreement on the need to enhance bilateral relations and to resolve all disputes through negotiations and dialogue, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Ms Meira Kumar, has said.
She made the remarks, while addressing a reception hosted by the Indian High Commissioner, Mr Sharat Sabharwal, here yesterday.
“We want to resolve all disputes through negotiations and dialogue,” Ms Kumar said in her speech in Urdu.
She said parliamentarians from both countries were playing a key role in promoting bilateral relations and enhancing people-to-people contacts.
The dialogue process between India and Pakistan has been making progress since it was resumed last year and it would be useful for strengthening the ties, she added.
Parliamentary groups of the two sides should meet frequently so that lawmakers can learn from each other’s experiences and share ideas, Ms Kumar said.
New visa regime
A new visa regime currently being examined by the Home and Interior Ministries of the two countries will help in promoting people-to-people relations as it will ease the restrictions on travellers, she said.
Ms Kumar, who is visiting Pakistan with a parliamentary delegation at the invitation of her Pakistani counterpart, Ms Fehmida Mirza, has impressed politicians and the media by speaking at all her public engagements in flawless Urdu.
She said she had brought good wishes for the people of Pakistan from the people and the parliament of India. She said the Indian people desired a strong friendship with the people of Pakistan.