Islamabad, July 15; PILDAT has welcomed the meeting between the Honourable Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan Dr. Fehmida Mirza and her Indian counterpart Honourable Ms. Meira Kumar, Speaker Lok Sabha, India, that has reportedly taken place in Delhi on July 11, 2011 on the sidelines of the 5th Summit Conference of the SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians held from July 09-12, 2011 in New Delhi, India.

As an independent Pakistani think tank working to promote interaction between Parliamentarians of Pakistan and India, PILDAT has said that the two Speakers agreement to employ Parliamentary diplomacy through Parliamentary interaction between the two neighbouring countries is a step in the right direction. During the Speakers meeting a need for enhanced Parliamentary interaction between Pakistan and India was recognised. PILDAT also welcomed Dr. Fehmida Mirza�s reported invitation to Ms. Meira Kumar to attend the 7th Women Speakers� Conference to be held in Pakistan from November 15-17, 2011 and urged that such exchange and interaction between Parliamentary leadership as well as Parliamentarians from two sides will strengthen the initiative of peace.

PILDAT also lauded the establishment of Pakistan-India Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Lok Sabha following Pakistan�s pattern as reportedly stated by the Honourable Speaker Lok Sabha in her meeting with Dr. Mirza. An All-Party Parliamentary Friendship Group on India was established by the Speaker National Assembly last year in Pakistan.

PILDAT believes that the Dialogue is the only way forward in addressing the issues and improving bilateral relations. �Parliamentarians can play a positive role in bridging the gap between the two countries for better understanding and friendship,� believes PILDAT.

In the face of many issues that confront the region and impact relations between Pakistan and India, PILDAT feels that Parliamentarians should be facilitated on both sides for a greater interaction and developing a better understanding for resolving issues. In the same context, PILDAT is also facilitating a series of Dialogues between the Parliamentarians of India and Pakistan. The first Dialogue of the series was held in Islamabad in January 2011 where seasoned and senior Parliamentarians from India joined their Pakistani counterparts. Second Dialogue of the series is expected to be take place in Delhi in August 2011.