Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Fides Service) – “We are very pleased and welcome with joy the news of the governments’ decision to resume talks. We hope with all our heart that these talks will mark the start of a new era in relations between our two great nations India and Pakistan in the third millennium” Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan commented to Fides Service the news that India and Pakistan have agreed to start a new round of talks in February. The neighbouring lands which in the past fifty years have engaged in three border wars, will discuss the delicate destiny of the disputed Kashmir of India as well as other political and economic matters according to a statement released on January 6 by the respective presidents Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pervez Musharraf at the end of a regional summit with leaders of Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lank and Bangladesh.
“I am confident that these new talks will bring concrete results for peace and economic cooperation. We see today at atmosphere of friendship which I am sure will bear fruit. Relations between India and Pakistan have a great potential for peace for the benefit of both peoples. It is important to settle the old question of Kashmir in friendship and peace” Archbishop Saldhana told Fides Service.
“I think that our two nations are called to discover their common roots as members of the Indian subcontinent with common culture and history. They need also to unite efforts to fight endemic poverty which affects vast sectors of the people in India and Pakistan: more than 35% of the population live below the poverty line on less than a dollar a day and 30% in India. This means millions live in situations of dire poverty. The governments have a duty to unite efforts to eliminate this scourge and to work for the good of the people reducing military spending” the Archbishop told Fides.
“As far as Pakistan is concerned – Archbishop Saldanha told Fides – I have to say that this is another positive move by president Musharraf, who has risked his life several times in the recent past with his anti-extremism policy. It should be noted that both governments have openly condemned all forms of terrorism and fundamentalism and this is a first step towards agreeing on peaceful solutions to the questions on the table, including all important cooperation in economic matters and trade which needs to be developed instead of blocked by violence and hostilities”.
(PA) (Fides Service 7/1/2004 lines 37 words 433)
