Recently held regional SAHI meeting and Building Bridges during the IMC conference in Chicago decided that it must explore the possibilities of organizing a visit to India and Pakistan by a joint delegation of Non-Resident Indians and Non-Resident Pakistanis. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen people to people contact and create good will between India and Pakistan. The group will meet political leaders and civil society leaders on both sides. The delegation will be received by local NGOs and peace activists in each city. The delegation will meet ordinary people and address public meetings besides addressing press conferences in each city. Features of the proposed visit: The delegation will include equal number of prominent and active Indians and Pakistanis from the US, UK, Canada and other countries. The planned date of departure is December 26, 2004 and return on January 9, 2005. Duration: 2 weeks. The delegation will visit five large cities in each country. Pakistan: Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Lahore India: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Lucknow and Ahmedabad The delegation will also visit Kashmir on both sides. Upon arrival in Pakistan, the group will be received by the civil society leaders and political leaders. Then the group will be divided into two small delegations. One delegation will visit Quetta and Karachi while the other delegation will visit Peshawar and Lahore. The group will reconvene in Islamabad to meet the government officials. (visits to Pakistan side of Kashmir is planned). The joint delegation will cross the border by land and reach New Delhi. Then the group will be divided into two small delegations. One delegation will visit Ahmedabad and Mumbai while the other delegation will visit Kolkatta and Lucknow. The joint delegation will also visit Srinagar and Jammu. The group will reconvene in New Delhi to meet the political and civil society leaders. It was also suggested that the delegation should take part in the Promise of India conference to be held in Mumbai on January 8th. If you are living outside of Pakistan and India and would like to join the delegation, please contact us by email or phone. Thank you. Suggestions are welcome. John Prabhudoss Washington DC. Phone: 202 547 4700 (office) 301 346 5736 (cell)