Peoples of both Pakistan and India must join in the peace process and endeavour for its success, in order to create friendly relations between the two countries. Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister of Indian State Haryana, expressed these views while addressing a dinner hosted for him by World Punjabi Congress (WPC) here on Saturday.
He suggested that visa restrictions should be removed to promote people-to-people contact and also to give the Pakistanis and Indians a chance to experience rich heritages that the two countries possess.
"The Indo-Pak peace process was initiated by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and now it was up to the people of the region to take it to its logical conclusion," he added.
Chautala reiterated that within its own state framework, Pakistan and India should unite on the line of European Union with the aim of failing the developed countries' goal of capturing the South Asian markets.
While appreciating the splendour of the historical city Lahore, he said that the city had played a pivotal role during the Independence struggle and demonstrated strong democratic values that forced the British Empire to leave. "The same city could again play the vital role in the improving the Indo-Pak relations," he added.
WPC chairman Fakhar Zaman, Talojan Singh and Pundit Jasraj also spoke on the occasion. They all advocated for closer and friendlier ties between the two neighbouring countries.
They also emphasised on the involvement of common man in the peace process, and said that without their support and active participation the process would struggle. They strongly voiced for diversion of precious resources spent on arms to human welfare and development.