Participants India: Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal, executive editor, Kashmir Times Bharat Bhushan, editor, Mail Today
C Rammanohar Reddy, editor, Economic and Political Weekly
N Ravi, editor, The Hindu
Shravan Kumar Garg, group editor, Dainik Bhaskar Pakistan: Abbas Nazir, editor, Dawn
Arif Nizami, president, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors
Azhar Abbas, executive director, Geo News
Syed Talat Hussain, executive director, Aaj TV
Zahid Hussain, senior editor, Newsline Afghanistan: Danish Karokhel, director and editor, Pajhwok News
Ehsanullah Arianzai, managing director, Ariana TV
Shahir Zahine, president, Killid Radio
Hussain Yassa, editor-in-chief, Outlook, Afghanistan Organisers: A S Panneerselvan, executive director Panos South Asia
Mitu Varma, director programmes, Panos South Asia; director, Panos Institute, India
Sahar Ali, country representative, Panos Pakistan Moderator: Kanak Mani Dixit, editor, Himal Southasian
For seven years running, Panos South Asia and Himal Southasian have brought together top media editors from India and Pakistan, to evolve fresh ideas and thinking on bilateral relations over two-day retreats held annually in conducive surroundings*. The idea has been to keep up the interaction and dialogue between the two countries through good times and bad, in the interests of a safe and prosperous Southasia.
Barcelona 2008 brought to the table the dramatically altered scenario in the region, with the resurgence of the Taliban and the increased presence of US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) under the command of NATO in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's joining SAARC brought matters even closer to home. There was no way a dialogue for regional peace could be held without bringing Afghanistan into the picture. This was especially important since the Western narrative was dominating all discourse on Afghanistan, with very little initiative or input from within the region.
The 2009 editors' retreat, held in Salzburg, therefore brought in editors from the nascent media in Afghanistan – a media that is earning its colours in extremely trying circumstances, in a country that the UN has branded as the most dangerous place to be born. The atmosphere was electric, tensions sometime palpable, and ideas brimming over as the editors talked over two days to see what kind of a peace initiative could be evolved from within the region. Indian and Pakistani editors listened intently as the Afghan participants spoke. There was significant discussion and debate between the Afghan and Pakistani participants regarding, for example, the situation in Balochistan and cross-border issues. While the addition of Afghanistan brought in a significant element important for the evolving scenario of 'North Southasia', inevitably some discussion was also devoted to the existing unresolved issues between India and Pakistan.
Though many agreed to disagree on history, journalists from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan put their heads together to think of ways forward that would take everyone along. We bring to you excerpts from those discussions, which we hope will help in evolving a regional paradigm for peace.
*Detailed reports of all retreats can be accessed at Himal's website, himalmag.com.