(a)
whether a delegation of some women organisations of India visited Pakistan in March/April 2000;
(b)
if so, the details thereof including the names of such delegates and organisations;
(c)
the persons, organisations with whom the delegation held talks;
(d)
the outcome thereof; and
(e)
the impact of the visit on Indo-Pak relations?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
(a)-(e) A women`s delegation belonging to `Womens Initiative for Peace in South Asia` paid a week-long visit to Pakistan in the last week of March, 2000. The delegates included members of the National Commission for Women, social activists, educationists, artistes, media personalities and students. During their stay, they met representatives of the Press and local NGOs. Pakistan`s Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, hosted a lunch for them in Islamabad. A 7-member team from the delegation also made a call on General Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad.
Amongst the Pakistani organisations, with which the delegation interacted during their stay were the Pakistan-India People`s Forum, Aurat Foundation, Democratic Commission for Human Development and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. They also participated in the `Indo-Pak Women Solidarity Conference` which was organised by a Pakistani daily newspaper and the Heinrich Boell Foundation. They also participated in a dialogue organised by the Democratic Commission for Human Development.
The visit was a private initiative.