Agencies, "Cultural exchange way to resolve issues: SAARC leaders" - Kashmir Live - New Delhi, IndiaMonday, May 26, 2008
After being treated to the vibrant and spiritual strains of Sufi-rock music, several South Asian political leaders agreed that cultural exchange is a positive way to resolve issues among the neighbours
"This is the way to resolve conflicts," former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga told reporters after watching popular Pakistani band 'Junoon' mesmerising a 4,000-strong audience along the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Echoing her views, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar said cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan can lead to a "grand reconciliation".
"People are less interested in politics; they are more into music, dance and culture. Such exchanges will strengthen people-to-people contact and lead to a grand reconciliation about which (Pakistan) President Pervez Musharraf has spoken," he said.
He said such cultural exchanges helped in contact at the grass-root level.
Afghanistan Women's Affairs Minister H B Ghazanfar said through an interpreter that there was no politics involved in the events organised by the South Asian Foundation.
"We are here to promote people-to-people understanding," she said.
[Picture: Overview of Dal Lake around Nehru Park. Photo from http://www.jktourism.org/cities/kashmir/srinagar/index.htm].
Echoing her views, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar said cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan can lead to a "grand reconciliation".
"People are less interested in politics; they are more into music, dance and culture. Such exchanges will strengthen people-to-people contact and lead to a grand reconciliation about which (Pakistan) President Pervez Musharraf has spoken," he said.
He said such cultural exchanges helped in contact at the grass-root level.
Afghanistan Women's Affairs Minister H B Ghazanfar said through an interpreter that there was no politics involved in the events organised by the South Asian Foundation.
"We are here to promote people-to-people understanding," she said.
[Picture: Overview of Dal Lake around Nehru Park. Photo from http://www.jktourism.org/cities/kashmir/srinagar/index.htm].
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