Peaceful, democratic and stable Pakistan is in interest of India: Sharat Sabharwal

Jalandhar, February 7, 2016: DAV College, Jalandhar and M L Sondhi Memorial Trust in a collaboration organised a royal symposium , where Shri Sharat Sabharwal (ex alumni and former Indian ambassador in Pakistan ) were the chief guest at the occasion.
This symposium on "India Pakistan relations -challenges & prospects" was organised In the Golden memory of Ex alumni M L Sondhi .
DAV College, Jalandhar in association with M L Sondhi Memorial Trust will organise a symposium on "India Pakistan international relations -challenges and prospects , where Shri Sharat Sabharwal would be the revered chief guest (former ambassador of India in Pakistan 2009-2013).
Shri Sharat Sabharwal , Mrs Madhuri Sondhi , Shri Ramesh , Shri Kundan Lal were welcomed very warmly by Principal Dr BB Sharma , Dr Ashwani Sharma, Prof Sharad , Prof Dinesh , by presentation of Token of respect -bouquets followed by the lamp lighting ceremony .
Shri Sharat joined the Indian Foriegn Services in 1975, and served on various prestigious ranks in permanent mission of India in united Nations , Geneva and he was Deputy high commissioner of India to Mauritius and joint secretary in ministry of external affairs in new Delhi from 1990-1995 .He has been Deputy high commissioner of India in Pakistan (1995-1999) , ambassador of India to Uzbekistan 2002-2005 and additional secretary in the ministry of external affairs (2002-2009) . He has been a member of Indian delegation in various International conferences
Principal Dr B B Sharma quoted " its a matter of deep pride for our college, as Shri Sharat has been an ex student of our college. Dr Sharma told, Shri Sharat has been a student of DAV College Jalandhar from 1968, where he did economics honours and masters in political science . It's a matter of deep gratification, happiness and pride for us to have his distinguished presence amongst us and further talking about Indo Pak relations he quoted "the general public is full of love and affection for each other , but due to certain horrendous political forces and issues , a cold war is always fought between them and I hope with a heart filled with patriotic expectations that very soon the 2 counties would tie together with a bond of peace , love care and oneness " .
Mrs Madhuri Sondhi (wife of late Mr ML Sondhi) quoted in a very elaborated manner about Mr ML Sondhi and said "he was an excellent orated , intellectual , academician and a parliamentarian & Late Sh ML Sondhi was a man of remarkable talent and vision , and in his memory this symposium is being organised.
He was a member of IFS for 6 years and served Czechoslovakia and United Nations and held a tenured professorship in International relations at Jawaharlal University. He has been a member of Lok Sabha and remained a senior leader of BJP. He got his economics and law degree from Punjab university and was selected Rhodes scholar for Oxford and stood first in UPSC exams.
Talking about Pakistan she said "India has always been the initiator for establishing leave and brotherhood with Pakistan and will keep making such attempts for the times to come too ".
Shri Sharat Sabharwal at this occasion quoted " Stopping engagement and resorting to Jingoistic rhetoric do not guarantee an end to Pakistani provocations; instead they give a veto on bilateral relations to terrorists and weaken the opponents of the security state paradigm in Pakistan.
A peaceful, democratic and stable Pakistan is in the interest of India and the two countries should nurture their peace process as incidents like the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control disturb the friendly atmosphere in the region, Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal said he made the remarks while interacting with the audience. Sabharwal said India wants good relations with Pakistan and it has been New Delhi's policy that ties with Islamabad are based on mutual interest and benefit.
“It is necessary that the peace process should be carefully nurtured and efforts should be made that the peace process is not damaged,” he said. Referring to the recent ceasefire violations along the LOC, the envoy said these incidents had enhanced tension and disturbed the friendly atmosphere between the two countries.
And further he spoke on their hotline, the two countries agreed to resolve the issue through a bilateral mechanism that was already in place and the situation improved, Sabharwal said, the firing across the LOC had stopped and this was a welcome sign., Sharat Sabharwal said the recent incidents had not derailed the bilateral peace process or caused irreversible damage. He expressed the hope that the improvement in the atmosphere along the LOC would be durable and the ceasefire violations would not be repeated.
All information regarding the ceasefire violation had been shared between the two countries at appropriate levels, he said. Trade and other operations to continue. Trade was continuing between the two countries except at one point on the LOC and this point too had been reopened today, he added.
Under the World Trade Organisation agreement, Pakistan is bound to liberalise trade with India, he said.
Sharat Sabharwal, former Indian ambassador to Pakistan, echoes some points. He quoted
“Faced with Pakistan's firing across the LoC, we have no option but to respond. However, in general, more subtle strategies to contain and counter threats from Pakistan would be in our interest.
Finally, the jingoistic and threatening rhetoric in a section of our media in response to each provocation from Pakistan does us no good. Our growing power ought to be felt by our adversaries and not flaunted. Threatening language tends to drive a significant number in Pakistan, who think constructively of relations with India, into the arms of the security state proponents.” Until and unless their inner impulses don't get awaken , Pakistan won't make constructive attempts to improve the relations , and India would continue to establish trade relations as , trade is the foundation stone for a great healthy relationship .
Further he quoted "India is far more successful and advance than Pakistan ,and the exclusive blunder that Pakistan often commits is to flaunt its nuclear power . India is a peace loving nation and they will continue to make attempts to make their bond with Pakistan more sweeter and constructive , because neither we can leave Pakistan as it is neither we can ignore it straight away , so its better to sensitize ourselves in solving this matter and act more maturely .
He said " the relations have been full of ups and downs , the moment mutual talks are initiated , some sort of happenings occur , which create an atmosphere of obstacles in the communication process.
This happened in 1980s, but in 1989 with Kashmir's terrorism -everything got ruined. Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari, initiated a bus service between Lahore and Amritsar , but unfortunately with the Kargil , it was stopped . Both the sides need to correlate with each other and understand that they are attached culturally and historically.

In the end he quoted "the common public is full of love and sensitivity for each other , they don't have any hard feelings , and they all wish for fruitful relations full of positivity and sweetness , even the present governments expect and aspire for this , and they are making dire attempts to achieve that .
These hatred is just because of certain political factors and issues. And the biggest attempt to improve relations is to facilitate bilateral trade with the expectations that it will improve relations and for this peoples interaction is very essential and facilitating the nation to transform into a transit nation to enhance cooperation and integration to enhance the relations.
We need to forget the differences , and focus on success and development so as to usher our youth towards a healthy lifestyle , but unfortunately certain political and terror factor are creating obstacles in improvement of these relations . If we get for on our parts and move together in brotherhood, we can definitely kill these factors. What can't happen if these 2 countries join hands? They can progress towards a healthy powerful future and make way to fulfilment of the physiological needs and head towards a bright, enlightened and glorious future .