Participants acknowledged, at the outset, that news media’s growth has become exponential and that media are one of the several vital determinant factors in shaping bilateral relations between Pakistan and India.

While it was recognised that the news media have to shine a spotlight on reality, the requirements of objective and professional reporting should uphold the core values and cardinal principles of journalism.

Members emphasised that while all media in both countries cannot be painted with the same brush, there is a tendency in a few to be shrill and even jingoistic. This is deplorable and has to be addressed.

Participants underscored that both news media and academic centres focusing on media studies should be encouraged to conduct sustained research on portrayal of the other country by the news media in each country and that research findings should be published and broadcast to inform the public.

It was noted with regret that, often, fringe elements are wrongly given more space than warranted in the media of the two countries. More often than not, news media’s unquestioning reflection of their own Government’s foreign and defence policies stance hampers the expression of independent perspectives.

Lack of access for media to locations in the other country and obstacles in obtaining visas for journalists of both countries were highlighted as key issues hampering an informed portrayal of each country. Participants urged both India and Pakistan to put in place policies ensuring ease of access, travel and reporting by journalists from both countries. Specific proposals included visa-free access without city restrictions and for setting up of media lounges at Pakistan-India border posts to facilitate regular interaction and engagement between Pakistani and Indian media representatives without the need to obtain visas.

Lamenting the negligible progress on agreed Codes of Conduct for South Asian media despite the lapse of two decades, experts underscored the centrality of initiation and sustaining of regular media dialogue between Pakistan and India, involving, among others, media associations of the two countries. Such a dialogue’s pre-set objective should be to develop a Joint Code of Conduct on reporting about the two countries, starting from refraining to refer to the other as the “enemy” State. In this regard, suggestions were also made to eliminate the element of aggressive postures from the daily parade at the Wahga-Attari border.

Indian and Pakistani participants highlighted that the phenomenal growth in new digital media has enormous positive potential for engagement between Pakistani and Indian citizens and may actually make many existing restrictions redundant.

The two sides agreed that joint initiatives are needed in both conventional mainstream media and social media by individuals and enterprises of the two countries to promote an entirely new collaborative, cooperative mindset both within the media and among media audiences in the two countries. This new shared approach to reporting the news and making comments could engender an unprecedented improvement in mutual perceptions and bilateral relations. In this regard, it was suggested that the prospects of a jointly owned India-Pakistan TV channel, possibly located in Dubai, might be further pursued

Participants of the Dialogue lamented the continuing negative image stigmatising Police in both countries. The two sides agreed that the first step towards reforming police system is to acknowledge the critical importance of Policing and provide due and fair credit to Police.

Delegates agreed that sharing of experiences on Policing in the two countries highlighted the vast avenues of learning from each other in this critical sector.

While comparing effective practices in effective policing in Pakistan and India, participants believed that lack of uniform police laws across States in India and Provinces in Pakistan poses a big challenge for the two countries.

In sharing reform proposals, experts agreed that the Indian Supreme Court’s directives on operational autonomy and accountability of the Police and Pakistan’s Police Order, 2002, are similar in promoting democratic, community-oriented, professional and accountable policing and need to be implemented.

Experts believed that Police Station reform and revamping should be at the heart of improving the system of Policing in the two countries.

Participants underscored the urgent need for reforms to promote fair, professionally-led, adequately resourced and accountable Police across Indian States and Pakistan’s Provinces.

Delegates agreed that Policing in the two countries required to benefit effectively from the use of new technologies, better training and capability-based promotion system in the Police; modernize static and counter intuitive stop and search practices and introduce discipline matrix to reduce discretion of the supervisory police officers and promote fairness in internal police disciplinary proceedings.

Both India and Pakistan need to reduce disconnect existing amongst the actors of the criminal justice system of the two countries by introducing criminal justice coordination committees at the district levels.

Members stressed on the requirement of State support in terms of effective legislation and its implementation, critical financial support and promoting collaboration amongst various law enforcement agencies/departments keeping in view complex and challenging policing environment in the two countries.

Participants agreed that there is ample scope for effective police leadership, independent of the role of politicians in policing, can be complementary to the use of state support in building police capacity.