The study of peace building and conflict resolution in South Asia is a big challenge for academia and scholars of international relations. Despite efforts on many fronts and at various levels, Pakistan and India have failed to materialize the objective of establishing a peaceful and friendly relationship. Given the history of the past conflict relationship, a high level of mistrust has developed between the two countries, which is hampering development and growth in the region. The masses of the region have suffered a lot because of this hostile relationship. The region lags far behind in almost every sphere of life due to non-existence of normal and friendly relations.

The South Asian region is suffering from endemic conflict for too long a period. Such conflict is needless, to say the least. An intensive and extensive study is required to identify the causal factors and reasons of the lingering conflict –ridden relationship, so that substantial recommendations can be made toward building up a peaceful South Asia. Peace in South Asia will obviously give an opportunity to focus on the issues of poverty, endemic bad governance and political and economic exploitation in the region. We need to focus our energy and resources on what matters most to the poor in South Asia and endeavor to curtail needless expenditures on defense for the economic benefit of the peoples of the region. Peace can be achieved because of fortunate convergence of political agendas of the ruling elites in South Asia. If and when, we mobilize all our resources for a breakthrough in the peace process, we will usher into an era of peace in the subcontinent.

This study is designed to achieve this vital goal. An in-depth analysis of the bilateral relations will be made in this study. This study is planned to effectively meet this challenge. The objective of this study is to make an academic and scholarly effort to pinpoint the links, which are missing but required in establishing and promoting a peaceful relationship between Pakistan and India. A systematic study of the conflict may lead to better understanding of the situation. More importantly, we need to network to achieve the mutually desired goals of peace in South Asia.

An effort will be made to answer the most significant questions regarding the issue of peace building in South Asia, with particular reference to the on-going peace dialogue between India and Pakistan. The following issues will be discussed in detail:

1.Why have Pakistan and India failed to resolve their disputes, including the issue of Kashmir?

2.How can a normal and mutually beneficial relationship be established and promoted between the two countries?

3.Why did Musharraf-Vajpayee and later Musharraf- Manmohan Singh summits “fail”?

4.What will it take to have a successful and productive summit in the future?

5.What are the basic requirements for a permanent and sustainable peace in South Asia?

6.What are the main stumbling blocks to achieving a breakthrough in the development of peace between the two countries?

7.How can civil society organizations play a more enduring and meaningful role in the process?

8.How can academia network and join forces to promote peace in South Asia?

We shall endeavor to come up with practical recommendations to:

·Overcome the hindrances in the way of peace in the region, and

·Promote friendly relations between the two countries.

An academic discussion and comprehension of the current situation is urgently called for. Peace cannot be left to chance. We must build the foundation on which sustainable peace can be established. For this purpose an objective study is both necessary and required. This research project has been designed to achieve this goal.

A group of researchers in the International Affairs Study Group (IASG) at Preston University’s Institute of International Affairs and Diplomacy will conduct this research primarily through a study of existing printed literature in the field and interviews conducted for the purpose. We will look into primary and secondary sources available in Islamabad, particularly in the archives of the Government of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies. We will analyze the situation through study of relevant books, journals, magazines, newspapers and other state documents. The group will prepare drafts of their designated components and then discuss them in the research forums at Preston University, to get feedback and insights to further explore the given issues.

Research findings will be presented in workshops organized by the IASG for the purpose. The document will be eventually published by a renowned publisher. For the purpose of research a group of IASG scholars will visit India to conduct discussions and interviews of leading academics and politicians. This effort is more than just academic. Preston University plans to initiate a sincere peace-building effort between India and Pakistan through on-going academic exchanges and collaboration in joint research work.We intend to hold our first annual conference in Islamabad on December 1-2, 2007. Already eleven distinguished experts in the field have consented to present their research work in the said conference. These experts come from the leading research institutes anduniversities of Pakistan and India like Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Islamabad; Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; Karachi University, Karachi; Peshawar University, Peshawar; Forman Christian College, Lahore; Punjab University, Lahore; Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi; Mumbai University, Mumbai, and Agra University, Agra. More are expected to join us later. The effort needs outside support. That much is obvious. We are confident that many interested people in India, and elsewhere, would support a "people-to-people" exchange on the issue of peace in South Asia.

We would like to host such a "meeting of the minds", so-to speak. Preston University can certainly serve as the intellectual incubator for ideas in this academic activity.It can even sponsor a few researchers for the study. We firmly believe that these initiatives are a vital resource for moving the two governments and security establishments towards less belligerent positions. In our Masters program in International Diplomacy we are discussing these issues thread-bare and would like to hear from people interested in the cause of peace, especially Indian scholars, opinion-makers, youth leaders, and other activists.

More importantly, the idea about people-to-people initiatives, some of which is on-going, needs to be further supported.  It certainly would be valuable to do more as it always helps to do more because the main difficulty with endeavors like these is what is called the “scale up problem” which essentially means how one reaches out to include enough people, especially the national leadership. The Institute wishes to make a tangible contribution in addressing the issue of peace in the region. The solution-oriented line of thinking is being proposed as the primary approach toward conflict resolution.In sum, this is a generative work on the subject, and success depends upon cooperation across the borders. Networking is the key to success in building an active peace pressure group in South Asia. Undoubtedly, with the right kind of public pressure and at the right places a positive difference can certainly be made. It goes without saying that we must join hands to achieve this vitally important goal. A real breakthrough in the establishment of peace in the subcontinent is possible.