Another Pugwash On Kashmir
By Kashoo Tawseef
28 March,
2008
Countercurrents.org
"It
is obvious that peace cannot come without understanding the other,
and understanding is impossible without dialogue. Dialogue is impossible
without equality. Nations may be small or big, rich or poor; societies
may belong to civilizations that are old or comparatively new; the
origin of faiths may be lost in the fog of history or might be dated
with accuracy, but we must share one virtue; we must all be equal"
-M J Akbar, etala'at March 26. (
Pugwash, the globally known non-profitable organization is holding a two-day seminar on 29-30 March at Marriot Hotel in Islamabad, to discuss problems of regional stability, consider initiatives that should be taken in order to promote peace and cooperation in South Asian region and make possible recommendations to the respective governments.
Pugwash Conferences is to bring together, from around the world, influential scholars and public figures concerned with reducing the danger of armed conflict and seeking cooperative solutions for global problems. The Pugwash Conferences take their name from the location of the first meeting, which was held in 1957 in the village of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, Canada, birthplace of the American philanthropist Cyrus Eaton, who hosted the meeting. The stimulus for that gathering was a Manifesto issued in 1955 by Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein -- and signed also by Max Born, Percy Bridgman, Leopold Infeld, Frederic Joliot-Curie, Herman Muller, Linus Pauling, Cecil Powell, Joseph Rotblat, and Hideki Yukawa -- which called upon scientists of all political persuasions to assemble to discuss the threat posed to civilization by the advent of thermonuclear weapons.
The Conferences, which are held annually, are attended by 150 to 250 people; the more frequent topical Workshops and Symposia typically involve 30 to 50 participants. A basic rule is that participation is always by individuals in their private capacity (not as representatives of governments or organizations). But unfortunately the Kashmir case is something different where the basic rule is null and void as participation is as representatives of governments or organizations and not by individuals in their private capacity.
This time in Pakistan 'Prominent' Kashmiri 'leaders' are likely to swap over their views with regard to the contentious issue of Kashmir during a seminar. Besides Kashmiri 'leaders', the conference is expected be attended by more than 40 leading scholars, intellectuals, academicians, policy makers and public representatives from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran and Europe.
Chairman of his Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, National Conference president, Omar Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti and Peoples Conference leader Sajjad Ghani Lone are expected to participate in the conference. Kashmiri scholar and the executive director of Washington based Kashmiri American Council Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai and the Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan are likely to attend the conference. Earlier also there has been a Pugwash on Kashmir here in 2005.
Topics to be discussed, are (i) Prospects for Kashmir and Indo/Pakistani relations (ii) The situation in Afghanistan, in the Pashtun-Balochistan-NWFP area; Pakistani/Afghani/Iranian relations (iii) The role of NATO and foreign troops in the area (iv) Impact of the new political developments in Pakistan.
Significantly, the National Conference President Omar Abdullah, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Peoples' Conference leader Sajjad Gani Lone will share a common platform. According to the convener of the Pakistan chapter of Pugwash, Lt Gen. (retd) Talat Masood, "They are not anti or pro any government, they are all pro Kashmir," Notably, it will be Mehbooba Mufti's first visit to Pakistan.
The conference is expected to bring together about 50 leading scholars, former policy makers and influential public figures from Afghanistan, Iran, India, Pakistan and Europe. Other than experts from Pakistan, representatives of the key political parties including the PPP, PML-N, ANP, MQM, JUI, and the PML-Q would attend the conference.
BOTTOM-LINE
The Pugwash Conference comprised of such people will serve the purpose of bringing together, from around the world, influential scholars and will it result in reducing the danger of armed conflict and will it really seek cooperative solutions for Kashmir problem. Otherwise it will be a futile to have expectations from the conference whether it is held in Pakistan or any place else in the world.
[contact:tawseef@gmail.com]
