The first round of Pakistan-India Track II Dialogue began here on Friday in a bid to explore options for dispute resolution and normalising the otherwise tense bilateral relationship Representatives from civil society, diplomatic experts and government officials from both the countries are participating in the two-day dialogue (July 12-13). The event has been organised by Islamabad-based Regional Peace Institute. A joint statement would expectedly be issued on the conclusion of the dialogue today.
On the first day of the dialogue, the first session involved youth from both the sides under the theme 'With the young leading the charge - Discovering new paths for reconciliation and progress.' The delegates from India and Pakistan shared their perspectives on the existing scenario involving Pak-India relationship and ways and means to improve it. The second session discussed 'Formulating a vision for the future' and explored different options for the two countries to move on.
The ties between Pakistan and India have been on downward spiral since February this year following Pulwama attack in which at least 40 personnel of Central Reserve Police Force were killed in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) on February 14. India accused Pakistan of the attack and launched air strikes in Pakistan's Balakot area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 26. India claimed that more than 300 terrorists were killed and terror camps were destroyed in the strike. However, independent reports confirmed that neither there were any casualties as result of India's air strike nor any presumed 'camp' was destroyed. Instead, some trees were damaged. On February 27, Pakistan responded by shooting down two Indian military planes that intruded into Pakistan's air space. Serving officer of Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan was arrested and released a few days later as part of goodwill gesture from Pakistan.
As ties between both the South Asian neighbours remain tense, Islamabad has strongly condemned grave human rights violations in IoK and has recently slammed New Delhi for denying permission to Amnesty International to release its report on the controversial Public Safety Act imposed in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan has also welcomed the second report of UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Jammu and Kashmir which recommends the formation of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate the gross and systematic human rights violations in the occupied valley and calls for fully respecting the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu as Kashmir as protected under international law. In a bid to diffuse tension, both sides have lately showed the intention to improve ties and Pakistan India Track II Dialogue is the part of these measures.
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