India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads ever since they won independence from Britain in 1947. They have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir and came perilously close to another full blown conflict in Kargil in 1999.
Attempts by successive governments to defuse tension have failed to bear fruit. Relations became even more strained after the deadly Mumbai attacks in 2008 with India and Pakistan trading accusations over who was responsible.
Are the two countries destined to be foes forever Or will they give peace a chance? Prominent speakers give their views in this public discussion.
Chair:
Brian Hanrahan, BBC presenter/correspondent
Panellists:
– M J Akbar, Editor, India on Sunday and Sunday Guardian
– Dr Maleeha Lodhi, journalist and academic, formerly Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK and Ambassador to the US
– Sir Hilary Synnott, Consulting Fellow International Institute for Strategtic Studies, author and former diplomat
6.30 – 8pm 19 July 2010, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Room, Westminster Hall, House of Commons.
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