Kashmir central to Indo-Pak ties: Survey

Islamabad(GK): Awareness of the Kashmir problem being central to Indo-Pak relations has immensely increased, particularly in India, a survey conducted on both sides of the border has revealed. According to the survey, 77 percent Pakistanis and 87 percent of Indians feel that peace can be achieved by settling the protracted Kashmir issue.

The survey – conducted by independent research agencies and sponsored by the Jang Group of Pakistan and The Times of India on the first anniversary of their joint peace initiative ‘Aman Ki Asha’ – showed that 70 percent of Pakistanis and 74 percent of Indians want peaceful relations.

Although, the process of composite dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi remains stalled since the 2008 Mumbai carnage, 72 percent Pakistanis and 66 percent Indians hope to see ’sustainable friendly relations’ in their lifetime. Compared with last year, the number of Indians hoping to see peace in their lifetime has surged by 17 percent.

The scientific survey covered 10 Pakistani cities and 42 villages, covering a cross-section of people from rural and urban areas. Pakistani cities where the survey was carried out included Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and Sukkur. In India, the survey was conducted in six cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. Adult population, both male and female, were represented in the survey.

This was the second survey on Pakistan-India relations. The first survey was conducted in December 2009; just before the Aman Ki Asha peace campaign was launched. Survey results show a consistent and marked improvement in perceptions about each other by people in both countries.

The survey showed that the issue of Pakistan-India relations featured in the thoughts of 73 percent Pakistanis and 68 percent Indians. The survey results said apart from settling the Kashmir dispute, 80 per cent Pakistanis and 91 per cent Indians think ’stronger relations and better defence’ would also contribute in achieving the goal of peace.

Around 77 percent of Pakistanis and 87 percent Indians consider that international pressure may help in bringing peace, while 71 percent Pakistanis and 72 percent Indians pin hopes on greater people-to-people contact to pave the way for friendly relations. Eighty-one per cent Pakistanis and Indians see people-to-people contact as an effective ‘instrument of peace’.

An increase in business has also been tipped as a vehicle of peace by 67 percent Pakistanis and 69 percent Indians, the survey said. Among other steps needed to promote peace, 32 per cent Pakistanis pinned hopes on sports, 28 percent on business, 22 percent on tourism, 20 percent on travel for health treatment and 13 percent each on culture and higher education. The data from the Indian side regarding this questionnaire was not available.

For 51 percent of Pakistanis, business can help bring peace, while 46 and 45 percent of respondents said that it can also be done through sports and tourism respectively.

The Jang Group and The Times of India have held a series of events over the last 12 months that involved a broad section of people, including students, intellectuals, artists, businessmen, doctors, information technology experts and ordinary citizens in an attempt to boost people-to-people ties.

(Courtesy : www.kashmirnewswatch.com)