SAARC parliamentarians meet continues in Shimla

The two-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) parliamentarians' conference is continuing here on Sunday, in which more than 80 delegates are participating.
Drawing on the theme 'Towards South Asia Unity,' the delegates are deliberating on regional cooperation, connectivity, security and setting up of a South Asian Parliament on the lines of European Parliament.
"Both Parliament and media should reflect in all countries the aspirations of the people to live in peace and harmony," Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said yesterday.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of Pakistan's Opposition alliance, Muttahida Majlis-E-Amal (MMA), said resolving the Kashmir dispute is integral to lasting peace between India and Pakistan, the group's two largest nations.
"The dialogue between India and Pakistan must continue but efforts must be made to find a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem. Unless this issue is resolved, the two countries can't enjoy trust and cordiality of good relations," said Rehman.
Lawmakers representing major political parties and presiding officers of Parliament or National Assembly from the eight member nations, -- Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka - are attending the conference.
The conference has been organised by the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA), a non-government initiative formed by independent journalists at the Islamabad conference in July, 2000.