Multan (Fides Service) - Christians and Muslims in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have launched a joint appeal for the total banning of nuclear weapons in the whole of the subcontinent. The appeal was signed by more than 500 delegates of Christian and Muslim movements taking part at the South Asia People Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan in January. The summit was organised by a network of associations aiming to free the area of nuclear weapons. Christian movements working alongside Muslim movements in the network include the Justice and Peace Commission of the Pakistan Bishops' Conference. The network called on the Indian and Pakistan governments to eliminate their nuclear weapons, reduce their missile programmes and sign a non-proliferation treaty. Since 1998 when India and Pakistan resumed atomic testing, both countries have carried out numerous experiments with missiles able to carry nuclear warheads.
The Summit participants demand the complete elimination of all nuclear weapons in the region and they also call attention to the increasing use of repressive government measures against human rights activists. The statement condemns increasing religious fundamentalism in the region, which foments hatred and intolerance, calling for the immediate disarming of all militant fundamentalist groups, which threaten social peace in the region. Another issue highlighted was the need to prevent and fight the trafficking of women and children by working for development to eliminate their exclusion and exploitation and guarantee adequate education. (Fides Service 29/1/2003)