Building trust through dialogue

Sir: The US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has urged both the US and India to take all necessary steps for peaceful co-existence with Pakistan. He said, “India and the US will need to continue to engage Pakistan, overcoming our respective — and often deep — differences with Pakistan to make all of South Asia peaceful and prosperous. For this relationship to truly provide security for this region and for the world, we need to deepen our defence and security cooperation.” The Defence Secretary’s remarks come at a crucial time as the US’s tension with Pakistan is strained by persistent CIA drone attacks against insurgents inside Pakistan’s borders. Peace is essential for the well being of South Asia. It is critical that all stakeholders work for sustainable peace in the region. Trust can be best built through multiple uninterruptible dialogues. Terrorism and extremism pose an existential threat. It is very vital for all concerned to try and make progress to bolster peace and security in the region.

WARIS SHERE
Winnipeg,
Canada