March 12 & 13, 2012: Peace & Harmony News from S. Asia

"Over the past two years, we have made major strides in reducing the 'trust deficit' between India and Pakistan. "I hosted the foreign minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar in New Delhi [ Images ] in July last year, and plan to visit Islamabad myself this summer," (External Affairs Minister S M) Krishna said in his address at a seminar organised in Singapore by the Institute of South Asian Studies. Krishna said both Khar and he affirmed the importance of carrying forward the dialogue process with a view to resolving peacefully all outstanding issues through a constructive and result-oriented engagement…

*Afghanistan opens first major railroad, SAMN, March 12, 2012

http://southasianmedia.net/Test21/DetailPage.aspx?StoryID=65138

More than a century ago, fearing that his country might be swallowed up in the Great Game rivalry between the British empire to the east and the Russian army to the north, an Afghan king made a radical decision: He banned railroads. That edict effectively kept out foreign troops for a number of years. But it also left the Afghan economy, once a wealthy crossroads of the ancient Silk Road trading routes, largely cut off from the world at a time when trains were the engines of development. Now, Afghanistan has just opened its first major railroad and is planning a half dozen more. The government is also inviting other countries to build tracks, part of plans for a "New Silk Route" that the U.S. hopes will help stabilize the region by promoting trading links…

*India, BD in coordinated patrolling along border, SAMN, March 12, 2012

http://southasianmedia.net/Test21/DetailPage.aspx?StoryID=65121

Coordinated patrolling by personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) along the vulnerable stretches of the international border has started to check infiltration of foreigners and trans-border movement of criminals….However, sources pointed out that identification of the vulnerable areas along the international border would have to be a continuous process as the criminals keep changing their modus operandi and the forces would also be on alert to thwart the criminals’ moves. But movement of militants through the international border has also come down as the present regime is acting tough against all the militant groups…

EXPLANATION/DISCLIMER: The above is a selection of news stories pertaining to South Asian governments, civil society organizations and individuals working together on projects of mutual benefit including peace and communal harmony, and those relating to attempts to improve the condition of South Asian peoples, especially women and children. ACHA does not approve of or subscribe to any "disharmonizing language" (including terms such as POK or IOK) used in these items selected from various publications. Readers may exercise their linguistic judgment and ignore any biased language.

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