Although India and Pakistan have made positive strides towards improving bilateral relations, there have been occasional ups and downs. However, despite the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008, India re-initiated peace talks and confidence-building mechanisms with its neighbour. There have been discussions on the liberalized visa schemes, talks of greater cross-border trade, and calls for more people-to-people contact.
On February 4, Gateway House hosted Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, CEO, Nutshell Forum, an organization which provides a platform for India-Pakistan dialogue, in conversation with Manjeet Kripalani, Director, Gateway House, to discuss the dynamics of the present, and the future of the India-Pakistan relationship.
Azfar shared his insights on the current trajectory of Pakistan’s internal politics, their upcoming general elections, the importance of improved trade between New Delhi and Islamabad, and stressed on the need for more people-to-people contacts between the two nations.
Muhammad Azfar Ahsan is the CEO of Nutshell Forum, which provides a platform for India-Pakistan dialogue. He is also Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of Rotary Club International in Karachi through which he conducts regular breakfast meetings at the Marriot in Karachi. He is also on the management committee of the Jang Group and Times of India initiative ‘Aman ki Asha.’
Manjeet Kripalani is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. She is also the former India Bureau Chief of Businessweek magazine. During her extensive career in journalism (BusinessWeek, Worth and Forbes magazines), she has won several awards, including the Gerald Loeb Award, the George Polk Award, Overseas Press Club and Daniel Pearl Awards.