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Indo-Pak Rotarians lobby for peace

Indian and Pakistani members of the Rotary International today called for peace between their two countries.

At the Rotary International's convention in Singapore, the organisation's Indian and Pakistani members proposed forming a committee to tackle the two countries' deteriorating relations.

''We want to create an atmosphere that will bring people together,'' said Abu Mohsin, a legal consultant from Pakistan.

''People of our countries have no problem with each other,'' the Pakistani Rotarian added.

''There is a difference of opinion, there is a political problem, but otherwise we have a beautiful relationship,'' said Sanjeev Khanna, a Rotary member from New Delhi.

Rotarians from India and Pakistan so far have organised a number of exchange programmes for the two countries' students, youths and children with learning disabilities.

''Our co-operation has shown that a dialogue can go on, that it is possible to talk,'' said O P Vaish, a lawyer from Delhi.

When the Pakistani foreign minister visited India on Saturday, Khanna noted, the stock market in Delhi reacted by rallying.

''Rationally, people know that peace is good for them,'' he said.

Both Indian and Pakistani Rotarians said they were hopeful that peace will be restored.

''We have faced this problem for the past 50 years and the general public wants peace, '' said Muhammad Faiz, an architect from Karachi.

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