Journalists from Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) Thursday called for removing barriers that kept them disconnected over the years.
According to a statement issued to KNS, they were speaking at a two-day intra-Kashmir journalists’ workshop at Islamabad Club in which a group of 25 journalists from Kashmir valley and PaK came together.
The workshop, a first of its kind, is organized by Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) and Center for Peace Development and Reforms (CPDR) in association with Kashmir Initiative Group.
Speaking during the first day of the two-day workshop, KIIR Executive Director, Sardar Amjad said KIIR wanted to involve the real stakeholders in the process.
“We are not working toward any solution as we believe the process leads to solution,” he said. “We have to create such an atmosphere which would be a win-win solution for all.”
CPDR Executive Director, Ershad Mahmud said while the world had opened up with the advent of information technology and social media revolution, media persons across the two Kashmirs were still not connected.
Mahmud said organizing a workshop for the media persons from the two sides was an effort to bridge the information gap.
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Shujaat Bukhari, the Editor of Rising Kashmir, said leading a delegation of journalists from Kashmir to Pakistan and PaK was a dream come true for him.
He said Kashmiris become a victim of the differences between New Delhi and Islamabad.
“We tried to create an indigenous network so that we try to understand one another,” Bukhari said.
He said indigenous Kashmiris need to play a part in the Confidence Building Measures, which are means not ends to resolve issues.
Senior editor of Greater Kashmir, Mehmood-ur-Rashid, said establishing relationships among the people could transform the atmosphere.
New Delhi-based senior Kashmir journalist, Iftikhar Geelani said Kashmiris were not being involved in any processes New Delhi and Islamabad take on Kashmir.
“Finally, it is India and Pakistan who have to take decisions but the process should be driven by Kashmiris,” Geelani said.
Director Conciliation Resources (CR), London, Tahir Aziz said journalists have a higher level of understanding as they deal with issues on a daily basis.
“We have to create a sensibility on different issues people in two Kashmirs face,” Aziz said.
Athar Muzaffar Wani, a journalist from PaK said when he visited Srinagar, it was a feeling like going for a Hajj pilgrimage.