CBM?s Indo-Pak Peace Process

Will a bus running across the borders bring cordial relations between the two south asian nuclear rivals India and Pakistan? Well this is a question that will look for its answer on it own and time can only find its answer.

The first bus from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad was flagged off in the an auspicious ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA president Sonia Gandhi. The April 7 trip to Muzaffarabad involves thirty passengers in a two 15 seater buses. Among the VIP travelers were People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference Chief Omar Abdullah and state CPI-M secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami.

Sonia Gandhi also unveiled a "peace wall" in Uri which is dedicated to the Indo-Pakistani friendship, looking forward to further work on building the relationship by introducing more Confidence building measures.(CBM's).

The bus was rightly named as the Karwan-e-Aman (The Caravan of Peace) as it took a message between the two Kashmirs divided by destiny. The whole idea behind this bus service is to increase people to people contact between families living across the borders who had to sacrifice their beloved ones to the heartless borders marked by the two nations.

However it's has to be watched and seen as to how much the two governments are successful in making this possible. Besides diplomatic promises of uniting the divided families things has to move in a transparent manner in the grassroots level when it comes to getting clearance for the journey and in other documentation matters concerning the journey. This is where the central and the state government have to play their role.

A process well started is like half done proves wrong here as this process is hypersensitive in nature and concerns the sentiments of scores of divided families suppressed for decades under territorial demarcations. It's a commendable fact that the government has a taken a positive step forward in the betterment of Indo-Pak relations.

The two countries decided to implement another CBM by opening the rail link between Munnabao in Rajasthan and Khokhrapar in Sind near Karachi in December. There is also a proposal to extend the Munnabao-Khokhrapur train service up to Karachi The rail link will benefit thousands of families, living near Karachi, who had migrated from India, mainly from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Delhi during Partition. The two countries have agreed upon plying trucks across the Line of Control in Kashmir. This move is going to be of immense help for Kashmiri apple growers in finding new markets in areas around Rawalpindi in turn boosting Kashmir's economy.

On April 22, 2005 during the Asian African summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told press reporters the following "I really believe that if this process is allowed to go forward, it will create a climate conducive to the final settlement," The prime minister also added that it was not possible to put a time frame for resolving the problem. "I really don''t know today. It is a process. I can't lay down a timetable, where will it lead us or when will it". "But I am convinced this is the way of looking at the problem which creates a situation where there are no losers, no winners.

"They only gainers are the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the prospects of reconciliation between the people of India and the people of Pakistan" To conclude I would like to say that it is time to take advantage of the conducive atmosphere and take the process ahead and come up with more confidence building measures and introduce more trade links and introduce measures that will mutually benefit the two nations.

To read similar articles please visit http://www.himalayanaffairs.org

Lalith Ninan
A freelance journalist

executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport car
In The News:

Getting virus alerts on your iPhone? Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to handle fake scam alerts and boost security.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says opening emails is safe, but risks arise from interacting with links, attachments or HTML content.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals four signs of compromised Social Security numbers and offers five steps to protect yourself.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how MAB Robotics' Honey Badger 4.0, a versatile robot, now walks underwater with amphibious skills.
An updated Android trojan called FakeCall hijacks bank calls. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Android phone manufacturers and Google need to step up their game on security.
The Massimo Modular E9 is a sleek, smart and comfy tiny home in 409 square feet. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson takes a closer look at what the future of housing might look like.
Every stock trader should consider a virtual private network to safeguard their trading, according to tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson.
Apple recently announced its new lineup of Macs and rolled out Apple Intelligence, its latest artificial intelligence-powered feature for its products.
A Swiss-engineered robot can climb ladders, showing why it's at the cutting edge of autonomous robotic solutions for harsh industrial settings.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson presents the cities targeted most by robocalls, why this is happening and what you can do about it to protect your privacy.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson shares tips and suggestions for how to get the best use out of the updated Calendar app available with the latest iOS update.
Your Social Security number, your unique identifier used for many purposes, has likely been leaked on the Dark Web; here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
Researchers have developed a new technology that creates strong, sticky fibers capable of lifting objects and capturing things from a distance.
Smart rings track the same things that smartwatches do, including steps, sleep and a general overview of your overall health, and they tend have more battery life than smartwatches.
Researchers have developed a robotic finger that can perform routine medical exams like those conducted by doctors, helping to address the growing shortage of trained professionals.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Insurance administrative services company Landmark Admin reported that a data breach from a May cyberattack affected over 800,000 people.
Sotheby's will auction the first artwork created by Ai-Da, the world's first robot artist created in 2019 by British gallerist Aidan Meller.
More than 250 million users of the Verizon Messages app will have to switch to another app. Verizon is shutting down Messages in the next month.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides a list of 10 celebrities who are the most targeted by deepfake scams, including Tom Hanks.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Vast's Haven-1, launching in 2025, transforms space living with human-centric design.
UnitedHealth confirms over 100 million Change Healthcare users had their data stolen. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals what happened and what caused the breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how iOS 18 brings new text formatting and animated effects to the Messages app.
Whether you're a social media veteran or novice, Facebook friend request scams are common. Kurt the CyberGuy provides tips to keep your account safe.

World Power Brokers Readying for WWIII

Einstein when ask how did he believe WWIII would be... Read More

The Unborn and Cloning

The UnbornWith all this cloning in the news one can't... Read More

How Can We Prevent Black Outs and Protect the Grid?

The idea is to have all the important items with... Read More

Protection of the Intellectual Property in Russia

A Governmental commission, headed personally by the Prime Minister has... Read More

The Hegemony - Church and State

THE ECCLESIASTICAL GRANT:There are good things done by the hegemony.... Read More

Spies in Seminaries - Stalin the CEO

The use of religion is well-documented as a social engineering... Read More

Regulatory Hooey Protects Us From Our Own Health

Legislation is getting legs to further curtail your use of... Read More

Famous Filibusters in Political History

The filibuster as a political delaying tactic has been a... Read More

History of the Media, Radio, and Television

When were the forms of media created? When did advertising... Read More

Quick Thought on The Flow of Fuel and Costs

Without the flow of fuel our very mobile society comes... Read More

Another Whistleblower -- is Anyone Listening?

The plight of whistleblowers ? those employees who sound the... Read More

Global/Israeli Corruption!

What depth of blind insanity has inflicted itself upon Israel's... Read More

Double Standards for Regulators?

Elliot Spitzer, recently said he wanted to drive a stake... Read More

TSA Missteps at Our Airports

The TSA seems to have completely missed the ball at... Read More

The Truth About Power and Absolute Zero

Societies have always had a problem of what to do... Read More

Conspiracy Theory; Kill Off the Old Folks

Recently I met a man in a coffee shop, a... Read More

Wars, Oil and Trade Conflicts of the Human Race

Many in the World Media are quick to judge the... Read More

Ronald Reagan is Right

Why is it that every single thing government does; it... Read More

Environmentalists Say GM Seeds are Bad News

Environmentalists say GM Seeds are bad for the environment, dangerous... Read More

UAV Targets, Aerial Dog Fights, Interception, Future of War Intelligence

The UAV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is hear to stay and... Read More

Ohio Department of Transportation; Sector Economic Reality

Ohio's transportation sector seems to be strong, even with Ohio's... Read More

Rugged Individualism vs Human Nature

"Rugged individualism" is actually a euphemism for Thomas Hobbes' baseless... Read More

Public Utilities, Monopolies and Problematic Structures

Public utilities and a problematic issue on the allowance of... Read More

Tax Attorney? You Might Need One; The City of Portland is Going After Small Businesses

The City of Portland is going after any small business,... Read More

Elliot Spitzer Sued By Feds

It appears the Feds are suing Elliot Spitzer over his... Read More

O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..