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WORKSHOP ON THE CHALLENGE OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING IN 21ST
CENTURY: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR SOUTH ASIA FEBRUARY 23-25, 2001 AT HOTEL REGENT PLAZA, KARACHI
MAIN POINTS EMERGING FROM THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE WORKSHOP
- CBMs are also relevant and applicable in case of countries with normal and better relations. These are not only applicable between or among adversaries but have general relevance.
- Although CBMs are considered as a Western concept but one cannot undermine its significance but these are a reality in building minimum trust and goodwill.
- A major achievement of CBMs is that countries can avoid war.
- South Asia does not have a structure to implement CBMs, which is a fundamental challenge to the application of this concept.
- India's hegemonic position should be matched by Pakistan's arms buildup.
- There is a need to bridge gap in theory and practice of CBMs by rationalizing the process of confidence building in South Asia. There is a need to move from rhetoric to rationality in formulating state policies.
- Lack of proper interaction among people of India and Pakistan at the grassroots level is a major obstacle to the process of confidence-building in South Asia.
- CBMs possess an image problem, which is a major impediment to build basic trust between adversaries. There exists mistrust in some circles about the concept of confidence-building measures.
- CBMs is a Western concept, which is not relevant in developing world.
- Concept of CBMs is as old as man.
- Deterrence is a negative concept and CBMs a positive concept.
- CBMs could be a process of facilitator to help resolve a conflict.
- Fundamental question raised? We are afraid of peace. Are we afraid of war?
- We should become a responsible enemy so as to help build minimum trust.
- CBMs a process to avoid conflicts.
- Atmosphere of dialogue in civil society essential to build confidence.
- Main hurdle in the process of CBMs is the role of intelligence agencies.
- South Asia could be regarded as a new frontier of U.S. policy and a fundamental American interest is to stop regional tension from escalating.
- The U.S. must encourage people to people contacts and should deal with India and Pakistan on the basis of ground realities.
- Ruling elites of South Asia are not encouraging the process of CBMs because of their vested interests and states are highly interventionist in their policies. Such a situation has created obstacles to building
trust and confidence between and among South Asian countries.
- Today South Asia is in the grip of negative nationalism, which is an obstacle to the CBM process.
- Real peace process in Sri Lanka will come from within, although Norway, European Union, U.S. and India are playing a role in the Sri Lankan peace process.
- Nuclearization of South Asia is not good for small states of the region. Small states of South Asia can play an important role in diffusing tension between India and Pakistan.
- Nepal can be a bridge between India and Pakistan for the resolution of their conflicts.
- India and Pakistan need to encourage a balanced approach in South Asia after the nuclear tests..
- Lahore declaration was a model for Indo-Pakistan confidence building but was shattered because of the Kargil episode.
- India's strategic objectives are not confined to South Asia but extends to other parts of Asia, including China.
- Overplay of nuclear card by India and Pakistan.
- Pakistan is using its nuclear option to compensate its conventional inferiority with India.
- Overseas community of South Asians can play a meaningful role for influencing the CBM process in South Asia.
- Role of violence in South Asia is a biggest hurdle in the process of confidence building and is now in the process of being institutionalized, particularly in Pakistani society.
- Because of their hard line approach vis-à-vis the peace process, Jehadi forces are a major impediment against the CBM process. The only alternate to deal with the forces of extremism is to reduce the influence
of Jehadi culture by establishing a democratic culture in South Asia.
- Common enemy of the people of South Asia is poverty, illiteracy and unemployment etc.
- Four capacities must be taken into account by India and Pakistan to build confidence viz:
- a. Reality.
- b. Patience.
- c. Balance.
- d. Responsibility.
- Peace between India and Pakistan since 1971 could be regarded as a situation of "ugly stability."
- Interaction between NGOs of South Asia essential to build confidence in the region.
- Democratic character of state and society and balance between the two is required in order to promote the CBM process in South Asia.
- Nehru's secularism and Gandhi's non-violence was turned into Hindu chauvinism in the 1980s.
- Proper application of non-military CBMs will lead to better formation and execution of military CBMs. The problem of non-military CBMs is at the implementation level.
- As compared to India and Pakistan, Sino-Indo CBMs are functioning more effectively.
- SAPTA must be made more functional and SAARC can play an effective role for water sharing arrangements in South Asia.
- Technology can be useful in building confidence in South Asia.
- Media's ineffective role in building confidence in South Asia is because of weak role of intelligentsia.
- The CBM process is in transition.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Institutionalizing and structuring the process of CBMs at the state and society levels required.
- To promote viable, assertive, positive and meaningful role of education, media and civil society required to support the process of confidence-building in South Asia.
- To bridge the gap in theory and practice of CBMs.
- To bridge the gap between military and non-military CBMs in South Asia.
- Role of violence be reduced so as to help the CBM process in South Asia.
- Viable role of Non-Governmental Organizations required so as to facilitate people to people contacts and also to encourage exchange of professionals of India and Pakistan.
- The catastrophic aspect of nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan needs to be stressed at the popular level.
- Coherent strategy to deal with the phenomenon of negative nationalism required so as to create positive environment for confidence-building in South Asia.
- To develop the expertise in promoting dialogue for confidence-building in South Asia.
- Scope of CBMs should be broadened by bringing social issues.
- Need to institutionalize Indo-Pak cooperation in the nuclear field, particularly in the area of nuclear energy. Holding of nuclear dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad for establishing a nuclear restraint
regime in South Asia is essential for peace and stability in the region.
- Meaningful and effective trade and economic cooperation between India and Pakistan in particular and South Asian region in general is needed.
- To effectively use technology for managing and reducing conflicts in South Asia.
- Positive reporting of media about conflicts in South Asia, particularly between India and Pakistan is the need of hour for building confidence in the region.
- To establish media channel in South Asia.
- To promote greater interaction between media, civil society and academia for building confidence in South Asia.
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