ISLAMABAD: Senior editors and executives of Indian media told their Pakistan counterparts on Tuesday that large sections in India were behind the peace process and that there were serious limitations for any government to regulate media coverage on India-Pakistan relations.
They were responding to observations from Pakistan delegates that media in India by and large "toed" the government line. The round table was organised by the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) in Lahore.
The Indian delegates, part of a 30-member delegation of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) on a five-day visit to Pakistan, were at pains to emphasise that the Indian media were diverse and that it was not possible for any government to influence it. The INS delegates include Pradeep Guha, N. Murali, Mammen Mathew, Jacob Mathew, Gulab Kothari, Ramasubbaiyer Lakshmipathy, Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, Idupuganty Venkat, Nalluri Madhurika, Jyoti Prakash Khan and Atul Maheshwari.
The discussion revolved around the role the media could play in conflict resolution, in general and the India-Pakistan peace process, in particular. Indian delegates pointed out that the media had played a positive role in putting pressure on the Government to initiate the dialogue process with Pakistan.
One of the objectives of the delegation, which arrived to a warm welcome on Monday night, is to explore ways and means in which the media can help accelerate the peace process and promote a free and frequent exchange of information and mediapersons.
The head of the delegation and INS president Pardeep Guha told journalists at a dinner hosted by SAFMA that the delegation hoped to contribute a brick in the foundation of the ever-growing peace and love between the two countries.
He said that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's efforts for improvement in ties might not be enough unless people-to-people contacts were enhanced.
SAFMA secretary-general Imtiaz Alam said the INS could play a significant role in helping the countries move closer. The INS meeting was a great opportunity for mediapersons to learn from one another.
The delegation will arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday and is scheduled to interact with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz over tea. Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid is hosting a lunch in their honour.
