Peace with India vital, says Pak info minister

The disputes between India and Pakistan can never be resolved through fighting and the only option for both countries is adopting peaceful means to settle issues, Pakistan's information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Friday.

Addressing a Pakistan-India media conference at the Lahore Press Club, Kaira said the media should help create an environment where the two governments could make decisions in the interest of both countries without facing any pressure.

"What we have learnt from past experience is that both countries should continue the process of strengthening relations and they should not let the ties be derailed or hijacked in case of any untoward incident," he said.

The Pakistan government has given ''relief'' to Indian TV channels and India should show flexibility regarding the airing of Pakistani channels, he said. He was referring to the recent liberalisation of broadcasting Indian TV channels in Pakistan – a move that India has not exactly reciprocated.

"Sports activities should be promoted between the two countries to further ease tensions. Relations among countries develop through trade. The economies of both countries are growing and we have to remove barriers like other countries have done," Kaira said in further remarks.

Jahangir Badr, the secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, said the wars fought between India and Pakistan in the past had created many problems. But peace between the two countries would lead to peace in South Asia, he added.