Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday called for strengthening of trade and people-to-people ties with Pakistan in order to defuse tensions and promote better relations between the two neighbours.
Capt Amarinder, at an informal luncheon meeting with Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood, expressed concern over the declining trade levels between the two countries due to escalation in tensions along the borders in recent months.
Both the leaders agreed that downslide in trade was detrimental to the interest of both India and Pakistan, and stressed on the need for concerted efforts on both sides to ease the tensions through people-centric measures.
Capt Amarinder was in favour of reviving ‘Indo-Pak Punjab Games’, which he had introduced during his previous tenure as Chief Minister. “Sporting events could play a pivotal role in boosting people-to-people relations on both sides of the Punjab border,” he said.
Notably, the Games was launched earlier in 2004 from Patiala, with events in a dozen disciplines, including hockey, cycling, athletics, gymnastics, polo, handball, wrestling, badminton, volleyball, tug-of-war, shooting and kabaddi.
“The enthusiasm with which these were received then by sportspersons and others from both Indian and Pak Punjab was remarkable,” the Chief Minister recalled, adding that such events are usually seen to have an extremely positive impact on peace efforts.
The High Commissioner was also of the view that more people-level contacts between the two nations could help pave the way for long-term peace and stability in the region. It was important for the development and progress of both the countries that they work in a spirit of harmony to promote the welfare of their respective people, he added.
The Pak envoy raised the issue of repatriation of prisoners who had completed their terms from both sides saying that various clearances required from the authorities should be expedited for the purpose.