Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation’s 6th India Pakistan Dialogue concluded in Delhi on Friday with the release of a draft resolution outlining recommendations for Indian and Pakistani governments to improve bilateral relations and address outstanding issues.

The 6th Delhi Dialogue was the result of collaboration between the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) and Islamabad based Jinnah Institute (JI). The conference was held for the sixth consecutive year, and continued in its aim to promote peace between India and Pakistan through Track II diplomacy. The conference brought together senior parliamentarians, diplomats, senior media-persons and policy experts who adopted the following statement after two days of intense deliberations.

• The participants expressed their deep concern at the deterioration of relations and the absence of a structured dialogue between the two governments, particularly when it was most needed.
• There was disquiet over the recurring breakdown of the ceasefire at the LoC and beyond, which had led to the deaths and the disruptions of the lives of innocent civilians on both sides.
• The Dialogue emphasised the need for continuous and constructive engagement between India and Pakistan and the respective governments on all issues and at all levels.
• The two Foreign Offices have a special responsibility, and must play a catalytic role, in promoting this process.
• The next SAARC summit in Pakistan offers an opportunity for meetings at the highest level to seriously discuss all bilateral and regional issues. The Dialogue strongly recommends that the fullest possible use be made of this opportunity to revive and give fresh impetus to bilateral relations.
• In preparation for this, all meetings already agreed between the two Prime Ministers should be urgently held.
• Participants noted that terrorism was a common threat for the entire region and called upon India and Pakistan to cooperate effectively in combating it.
• The stalled India-Pakistan dialogue must be restarted with utmost urgency and cover all relevant issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.
• That the ceasefire of 2003 on Line of Control (LoC) and IB/WB (working boundary) should be strictly adhered to and effective mechanisms instituted.
• Existing Kashmir centric CBMs should be strengthened and expanded, this includes:
  1. Travel permits be issued to all state subjects of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir.
  2. The present arrangement for Cross LoC trade be revisited with the aim of making trade processes more effective.
  3. Cultural, Economic and Academic interaction between communities on both sides of LoC should be made possible.
  4. The participants endorsed the earlier recommendations adopted at the 17th Cross LoC Conference organised by CDR in Srinagar.


• Urge for greater regional cooperation between Afghanistan’s neighboring and surrounding countries specifically India and Pakistan for achievement of durable peace and stability in Afghanistan
• Called on India and Pakistan to participate at the highest level at the forthcoming Heart of Asia Conference.
• Participants welcomed energy projects involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and India such as TAPI and called for developing an energy corridor from Central Asia to South Asia that could benefit all regional countries.
• Participants urged print and electronic media in India and Pakistan to play a constructive role in promoting bilateral relations.
• They emphasized that the power of media, in both countries, was such that jingoism could easily push both countries into conflict, therefore it was necessary for media to demonstrate greater responsibility in their reporting.
• The participants also propose to establish a joint Pak-India Media Commission having representation of different levels of journalistic bodies in both countries for negotiating the terms for the above, with both the states. The Commission should also be mandated for drafting a general code of ethics for reporting on conflict between the two countries.
• Participants urged print and electronic media in India and Pakistan to play a constructive role in promoting bilateral relations. They noted with great concern that absence of sources of information and space for factual reporting creates room for speculation, which is being exploited by jingoist media lobbies on both sides of the border.
• They noted that the space for exploring peace initiatives had become narrower, with the governments on both sides beholden to a populist narrative in media.
• They emphasized that the power of media, in both countries, was such that jingoism could easily push both countries into conflict, therefore it was necessary for media to demonstrate greater responsibility in their reporting.
• The participants also propose to establish a joint Pak-India Media Commission having representation of different levels of journalistic bodies in both countries for negotiating the terms for the above, with both the states. The Commission should also be mandated for drafting a general code of ethics for reporting on conflict between the two countries.
• Participants called on the governments of India and Pakistan to lift the ban on electronic news media in each other’s countries.
• They also called on both governments to explore a media CBM by allowing a select number of journalists to be based in each other’s capitals. They also urged the formalization of SOPs for managing this journalist visa regime.

The participants thank CDR and JI for carrying forward the process and urge both the states to support the continuation of Track II dialogues at various levels, especially among the media persons of both countries.

CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS

A 3-day cross-LoC (Line of Control) conference was organized by Centre for Dialogue & Reconciliation (CDR) in Srinagar from October 27-29, 2015. This was the 17th Cross-LoC dialogue conference organized and facilitated by CDR since 2005. About 50 participants representing all five regions of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir deliberated upon important themes - 'Strengthening cross-LoC CBMs: Ceasefire, Travel and Trade’, ‘Resolving Kashmir and Evolving Ramifications’ and ‘Natural Disasters and Community Response'. After three days of intense discussions held in a candid atmosphere, the participants, including 11 delegates from Pakistan- administered Kashmir, unanimously made some recommendations to India, Pakistan and public representatives and stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir. Here are the recommendations adopted by the conference:

Strengthening Cross-LoC CBMs: Recommendations

Ceasefire:

• The group noted that India and Pakistan should maintain the sanctity of the 2003 ceasefire agreement on the LoC and formalize it.
• Avoid heavy artillery in the populated areas, and ensure demining on the LoC as per international standards to prevent human casualties on both sides.
• Hold regular DGMO meetings and increase frequency of local command level meetings as well.
• Strictly follow the existing 48-hour moratorium on retaliation.
• Carefully handle all inadvertent crossings on either side of the LoC.
• f) Migration of wildlife should not be restricted for security reasons.

Travel:

• Make all the five agreed trans-LoC routes opened earlier fully operational.
• Open Kargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkot routes.
• Expand cross-LoC travel beyond divided families to all the state subjects of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir. Simplify documentation and ease of travel procedures for cross-LoC travel.
• Pilgrimage tourism and student exchange programs should be encouraged.
• Allow composite mushairas once a year at Poonch, Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad and Srinagar.

Trade:

• Already recommended suggestions should be implemented in a time bound manner.
• SOP’s need to be improved as per the present business scenario.
• Enhance the product list with specific HS codes.
• Barter should be converted to currency/banking system. Alternate currency Unit (ACU) is already available between India and Pakistan which can be implemented for LoC trade as well.
• Banking facility with Nostro-Vostro account as already recommended by the chambers should be implemented to formalise the trade.
• Intra-State Tax should apply for the goods moving outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir
• Improve infrastructure at crossing points with full body truck scanners, communication facilities, provide guest houses and meeting halls at trade facilitation centers where meetings can take place regularly
• Multi entry time bound Permits should be issued to traders to take part in marketing, trade fairs etc.
• A dispute resolution mechanism should be created
• Trade should not get disrupted by violence
• Encourage women entrepreneurship in cross-LoC trade
• Open communication links, direct telephone line from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad and Poonch to Rawalakot
• Financial data with transparency should be recorded and made available on web.

Kashmir Resolution and Evolving Ramifications: Recommendations

• This group acknowledges the anxiety of all regions of Jammu & Kashmir at the present stalemate on the Kashmir issue.
• It urges all stakeholders to restart processes towards resolving the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
• To this end, the two governments of India and Pakistan and the Kashmiri leaders are urged to consider the following suggestions:
  • Create conducive atmosphere for restarting the dialogue process.
  • Shun violence by institutionalizing the November 2003 ceasefire agreement on the LoC & IB, announce a non initiation of combat operations with militant groups, and avoid the use of violence as an instrument of addressing the Kashmir issue.
  • Expand the democratic space on both sides of the LoC by encouraging and safeguarding civil society voices and non-violent political activity.
  • India and Pakistan should immediately restart the dialogue on all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir issue.
  • This dialogue should be continuous and uninterrupted and insulated from ups-and-downs in the relationship between the two countries related to non- Kashmir issues.
  • Besides the India-Pakistan dialogue the two countries should have series of structured conversations with Kashmiris within and outside the legislative process.
  • Involve women as stakeholders in the dialogue process with Kashmiri leaders, as they are the worst sufferers of the ongoing conflict.
  • Identify common trans-LoC and cross-border issues and develop co- ordination mechanisms to manage these issues.
  • The two governments should move towards demilitarization and de- weaponisation of Jammu & Kashmir on both sides of the LoC.
  • Attempts should be made to re-establish the organic civilizational, cultural, economic and political links that have existed in the region for centuries.
  • Most importantly, the people of the region must feel secure and should have the freedom to develop their own accountable systems to ensure this.
  • The ultimate solution should recognize the unique history of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir and the final solution must be honourable, implementable and politically acceptable to stakeholders.

Natural Disasters and Community Response:

Recommendations

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness should be included as a new Confidence Building Measure
• Create an institutional synergy on Disaster Management according to:

Operational Framework

• Setting up of hydrological, meteorological, seismological and GIS centres on scientific lines on both sides of the LOC.
• Sharing of hydrological, seismological, meteorological and GIS data between the two centres. These would be the first centres to issue early warning.
• Creating a dynamic platform between the government and non-governmental stakeholders in disaster management to share information and resources sharing across the LOC.
• A dialogue process should be initiated between the public representatives of all 5 parts of the state of J&K which can collaborate on evolving a joint disaster response.
• Documentation and dissemination of best practices in the entire state is required
• Collaboration of research institutions on both sides of the LOC on themes related to disaster forecasting, risk modelling and risk prediction and Identifying disaster ‘hot-spots’ in the whole state through such research.
• Crossing points on the LOC should be opened in times of disaster for improving relief and rescue.
• Youth groups should be developed and trained on social-media- powered- disaster response so that they can be more informed and coordinated as first community responders.
• Shared directory of trained disaster managers/professionals on both sides of the LOC should be developed as they would have invaluable local knowledge (with an emphasis on mental and psychosocial health experts). Free movement of these experts across the LOC in times of disaster be allowed.
• Gender to be mainstreamed pro-actively at every forum.
• Follow up and organised lobbying is required with both national governments in order to develop Siachen as a peace park to inhibit melting rate and mitigate any future natural disaster.

Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation organized a five day training workshop in Delhi from May 10-14, titled “Leadership Training for Strengthening Women’s Agency.” Twenty five women from both sides of the LOC participated in it. This was part of our ongoing Cross-LoC Women’s Dialogue Initiative that was launched in 2007. The first cross-LoC women’s dialogue was held in Srinagar in 2007, second dialogue was held at Gulmarg in 2011. The third dialogue was held at Muzaffarabad in 2012, when a women’s delegation from J&K crossed the LoC for the first time, to participate in a conference on the other side. This also included Ladakhi women which was the first of sorts. For the Delhi workshop women travelled long distances from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli, Islamabad and Gilgit. The Delhi workshop explored ingredients needed for long-term sustained peace building initiatives, drawing up work plans and strategies for such work, building cross-LoC network of women and writing a proposal addressing issues to submit to the government. Ms Mehbooba Mufti, President of Peoples Democratic Party, hosted a dinner for participants. The Pakistan High Commissioner, Mr Abdul Basit and his wife also invited them to their residence for a dinner reception. After the workshop the guests who came from across the LoC went to visit their families in Srinagar, Baramulla, Jammu and Poonch.

The report titled “Retrospective and Prospective of 2014 Floods For Building a Flood Resilient Kashmir” was released at Kashmir University on 21 May 2015. The report is the outcome of the proceedings of the brainstorming workshop held jointly by the University of Kashmir and Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation on the theme at Srinagar, on November 15-16, 2014. The seminar was attended by a galaxy of experts on the subject drawn from various reputed institutes in the country. The experts deliberated on the genesis of the disaster and what needs to be done next in order to minimize the disastrous consequences of the extreme weather events in future in the mountainous Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The report specifically deals with the genesis of the 2014 Kashmir floods, the key Issues related to Kashmir floods and the future planning required for reducing the risk of the people to disasters. The report was formally released to the public at a function held at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar. Prof. Shakil A Romshoo, Head, Dept. of Earth Sciences, KU gave a brief account of the flooding problem in Jhelum and emphasized the need for using scientific knowledge for developing, on priority, a perspective plan for controlling the flood situation in Jhelum basin. He said the report details the views and opinions of the experts, government and civil society members who attended the brainstorming workshop. The report suggests the necessary measures to control floods under immediate, short term, and long-term measures. Prof. Romshoo said that it is important that the major flood control infrastructure being suggested for controlling extreme floods in Kashmir should go through the stringent technical evaluation and all the alternate options should be considered for their feasibility before finalizing the Flood Action Plan for Jhelum. Ms. Sushobha Barve from Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, New Delhi spoke about the need for taking a holistic approach in developing flood control measures. She said that it should involve the comprehensive environmental impact assessment of all the existing and pipeline development projects in the Jhelum in order to reduce the risk of the people and infrastructure to disasters in the region. She emphasized the need for taking up the community-based capacity building programs to prepare the people to tackle the disasters in the future. The function was attended by a host of people from academia, government agencies, civil society and media organizations.

View PDF : Retrospective and Prospective of 2014 Floods

Jinnah Institute’s 4th Islamabad Dialogue concluded in Islamabad on Friday with the release of a draft resolution outlining recommendations for Indian and Pakistani governments to improve bilateral relations and address outstanding issues.

The 4th Islamabad Dialogue was the result of a collaboration between the Jinnah Institute and New Delhi based Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR). The conference was held for the fourth consecutive year, and continued in its aim to promote peace between Pakistan and India through Track II diplomacy. The conference brought together senior parliamentarians, former military officers and diplomats, senior media-persons and policy experts who adopted the following statement after two days of intense deliberations.

Joint Statement - 27th February, 2015

They welcomed the forthcoming visit of Indian Foreign Secretary, Mr. S. Jaishankar to Pakistan. They felt that the Foreign Secretaries have an opportunity to pick up threads from the Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration, essential components of which are a comprehensive dialogue on all outstanding issues including Jammu & Kashmir.

They emphasized the need for strict adherence to the ceasefire and maintenance of peace and tranquility across the LoC and WB/IB.

They recommended effective cooperation to address the issue of terrorism and the growing threat of extremism.

They recommended that hurdles to already agreed CBMs be removed expeditiously, especially those facilitating people-to-people contacts, travel and trade between the two countries and across the LoC. Additional CBMs under discussion should be finalized and implemented as early as possible;

They expressed the hope that resumption of dialogue will be the start of a sustained effort towards building the desired peaceful, friendly and cooperative relationship.

They strongly felt that existing information barriers between the two countries be removed and steps be taken to include opening up news and other TV channels and exchange of ideas;

They urged implementation of the visa liberalization regime signed between the Foreign Ministers in 2012, which provided special non-reporting visa access and multi- entry 5 year visas for media persons;

They urged that Pakistan and India should cooperate in ensuring stability in Afghanistan;

Simultaneous with the progressive stabilization of Afghanistan, they hoped that the benefits of expanding the trade and transit agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan will enable the countries to become a trade, transportation, energy and minerals hub linking Central Asia to South Asia that makes Afghanistan’s recovery sustainable;

They recommended that the governments of India and Pakistan should urgently cooperate on addressing the challenges posed by climate change to their socio- economic development, especially food and energy security.

They urged cooperation for the effective implementation of Thimphu statement on climate change adopted at the 16th SAARC Summit in 2010;

They recommended that the two countries should also work in close cooperation to ensure that the new global climate agreement, to be adopted at the forthcoming conference of parties in Paris, responds to the needs of developing countries.

Thirty participants representing different regions of J&K State came together in a dialogue initiative organized by the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation. The participants of the two-day inter-regional dialogue held on February 14 and 15, 2015 at Jammu will jointly look at the possibilities to continue and sustain inter-regional exchange of ideas, views and opinions on issues related to all stakeholders.

This initiative aims to bring together all regions of Jammu and Kashmir to understand each other’s viewpoints and perceptions on contentious issues and build bridges of understanding and cooperation.

The group will work on trust building among regions and people by jointly tackling issues that otherwise we shy away from. The aim also is to take away people from rhetoric and falsehood propagated for vested interests, and help bring to fore complexities, perspectives and possible way forward.

The group’s initiative also will strive to organize meetings, seminars and workshops among well-meaning people in regions where people have grievances — social, political or economic - and will not remain limited to Kashmir valley, Jammu and Ladakh, but ensure participation from all regions and sub-regions.

This group also unanimously recognizes and acknowledges the aspirations and voices of all the communities and regions living in Jammu and Kashmir.

A two day National Seminar on “Retrospective and Prospective of 2014 Kashmir Floods for Building Flood Resilient Kashmir” was held at Srinagar from 15-16 November 2014. The Seminar was organised jointly by the Dept. of Earth Sciences, Kashmir University and Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR). The experts discussed various aspects of the 2014 Kashmir floods. Seminar proceedings specifically focused on –

• a) Genesis and magnitude of 2014 extreme flood;
• b) Key issues related to recent Kashmir floods and
• c) Future planning for flood risk reduction in the Jhelum basin.

The key technical, social, economical and institutional issues related to the recent flooding phenomena were identified and the participants of the seminar suggested a set of recommendations for addressing these key issues in order to reduce the risk of the people to flooding in future.




Considering the fact that the development of flood control infrastructure for absolute protection from extreme flooding is a time taking process, the experts suggested phasing the intervention priorities to reduce the risk of the people and property to floods. The experts suggested that there is an immediate need to develop a comprehensive scientific understanding of the causes and consequences of the recent extreme flooding in Jhelum basin. The seminar participants deliberated threadbare on what needs to be done next in order to minimise the disastrous consequences of the extreme weather events in the mountainous Himalayan state, if and when, such an eventuality arises in future again.




About 45 invited participants drawn from various central and state government agencies, academia and civil society attended the seminar. Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Member, National Disaster Management Authority, Mr A. B. Pandya, Chairman-Central Water Commission, Mr Wajahat Habibullah, Chairman National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Dr Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Flood Control, Prof Shakil Romshoo, HOD, Earth Sciences, KU, Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Dy. Director, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Dr G. Srinivasa, Head, Disaster Management, ISRO, Hyderabad, Dr Rakesh Kumar, Head, Water Resources Div. National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, Ms Sushobha Barve, Executive Director, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation and a score of the Heads of the Department from State and central government agencies and a few prominent members of the civil society attended the Seminar.

During last few weeks large scale ceasefire violations from both sides of the LOC have resulted in unprecedented causalities of civilians along with loss of property. This scenario has created severe tension, harassment and uncertainty among the border people. The normal life has been disrupted, residential houses are not safe, people are not in a position to move freely and schools have been closed due to threat of firing and shelling from across the border.

Following the ceasefire agreement of 26 November 2003, people of the border areas have enjoyed peace for the past 10 years. That has now been disturbed. We are again under the grip of warlike situation and have grave concerns over the current situation on the LOC.

In these circumstances we the people residing in the border region of Poonch in J&K State want to make an appeal to the Prime Ministers of India & Pakistan to take immediate steps to defuse the situation and restore normalcy on the LOC by honouring the mutually agreed ceasefire of November 26 2003. We also demand that fresh CBM’s be taken that will lead to peace and betterment of life for people living close on either side of the LOC. We also appeal to both the countries to resolve all issues through dialogue.

1. Iftikhar Ahmed Bazmi President Anjumune- Jaffria Poonch
2. Jalil Ghazi TV News Caster
3. Mohd Amin Bhatti President, Bar Association Poonch
4. Raja Abass Khan President, Peace Committee Border Area
5. Mohd Ikhlaq Khan President, Peace Committee Balakote, Poonch
6. Sardar Krishan Singh General Sectary, Cross LOC Trade, Poonch
7. Kamaljeet Singh Human Rights Activist, Poonch
8. K. K. Kapoor Educationist & Peace Activist Poonch
9. TazeemAkhter President, Mahila Mandal Poonch
10. SardarHabajan Singh President, Press Club Poonch
11. Babu Noor Mohd Gojjri & Pahari Poet
12. Gulshan Kumar President, Swami Budha Amar Nath Trust
13. FarooqMisbahi Imam Jamia Masjid Poonch
14. K. D. Maini President, Heritage Stage, Poonch
15. Musarraf Hussain Shah Vice-Principal, Govt Degree College, Poonch

Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation has been working in Jammu Kashmir since 2000 for creating understanding among all communities within and across the LOC. This is a time of unprecedented crisis. We all have to come forward to bring succor, solace and rehabilitation to a shattered people; our sisters and brothers who have lost loved ones and their entire households in the worst catastrophe of the century. Parents looking for a dry spot to bury a newborn infant, old women sitting dead in attics, youth hauling people out of drowned houses, themselves deprived of water are images that assail us out of our comfort. We want to do our bit by appealing to friends all over India and across the world to donate essential items; not money but articles, which will mean the difference between life and death. The items you donate, can be sent to the CDR Office at: 7/10, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi 110017. These will be sent on to Srinagar by air and will be stored in the National Institute of Technology at Hazratbal; the chairman of its governing body is our Board Member Wajahat Habibullah. Local youth will be mobilized for distribution among the afflicted. We are all deeply hurt by the tragedy of Kashmir but remember words of Jalauddin Rumi 'The wound is the place where the light enters you'.

The Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) organised an India-Pakistan Trade Dialogue on 11-12 April 2014, at Amritsar. This Dialogue was the first of its kind wherein traders from India and Pakistan who are involved in trading across the Wagah-Attari border came together to discuss their common concerns. The aim was to enhance communication between traders across the border and develop recommendations that can facilitate the expansion of trade. Participants included traders of a variety of goods like gypsum, cement, vegetables etc.

The fourth Delhi Dialogue concluded in New Delhi on Friday with the adoption of a joint resolution calling on both countries to make concerted efforts towards improving bilateral relations. The dialogue brought together senior journalists, policy experts, academics, advocates, former military officials, and diplomats from India and Pakistan for two days of intense deliberations to discuss a wide range of outstanding issues between both countries. Entering its fourth year, the dialogue is part of an India-Pakistan Track II diplomacy initiative by the Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation and the Jinnah Institute, which seeks to promote peace between the two countries through constructive engagement and dialogue.

Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation’s water initiative was launched in 2010 and since then it has conducted five water roundtables. The sixth one in the series was recently held in Bangalore. Stakeholders representing the academia, civil society and other institutes from India and Pakistan met under the auspices of the Centre for Dialogue & Reconciliation and Jinnah Institute from 15-17 February 2014 in Bangalore to discuss issues related to water, climate change, the environment, transboundary aquifers, changing demographics, cooperation for joint disaster management and possible joint studies on issues of common concerns in the Indus basin.

The cross-LoC Civil Society dialogue ended on 16th December 2012 in Jammu. There were three days of intense deliberations in which 60 people participated from both sides of the LoC. At the concluding session the conference adopted the following statement.

1. We welcome the forward movement seen in the ongoing       India-Pakistan dialogue.

Women are moving forward, coming out of their passivity and transcending their state of helplessness

Coming back from Muzaffarabad after attending a cross-LoC women's conference, I was asked by someone: 'so what is the most important thing that you accomplished during your visit?' I answered without much thinking: ‘we crossed the Line’. This was actually the spirit which dominated the visit as well as the conference. We had crossed the line literally and also metaphorically.

An Intra-Kashmir Cross LoC Dialogue conference was held at the SKICC, Srinagar, on 10-11, July 2012. It was attended by 55 participants from both sides of the LoC, Delhi and Amritsar representing various Trade & Business organizations and associations. On the final day the participants were divided into different discussion groups. After detailed discussion, participants agreed on a set of recommendations that were adopted as part of the consensus statement in the last session of the conference.

A two day seminar on “Jammu and Kashmir and the Federal Models of Shared Sovereignty” was organised by Department of Political Science, University of Kashmir in collaboration with Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) on 16th and 17th June 2012 at University of Kashmir. Dr S.D. Muni, Professor, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore delivered the key note address. Prof. M.A Sofi, Acting Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir, also spoke on the occasion. Ms Sushobha Barve, Executive Director CDR, and Professor Noor Ahmed Baba, Head Department of Political Science, KU presented the introductory remarks.

The first ever international Moot Court Competition between law students of India and Pakistan was organized jointly by the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) and the National Law University (NLU), Delhi. It took place at the NLU Campus in Dwarka on November 12th and 13th, 2011.

The idea was mooted a year ago, during a CDR organized conference on ‘Law and Society: Issues of Mutual Interest and Cooperation’. A number of distinguished delegates from India and Pakistan attended the conference.