Vohra for creating geo-political environment for regional cooperation

SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 15- Stressing the need for energizing old linkages with the neighbouring countries, Governor, Mr N N Vohra, today said that geo-political environment must be progressively moulded to enhance the prospect of regional cooperation and mutually beneficial cooperative arrangements.
Inaugurating a four-day "International Conference on Dynamics and Revival of Silk Route: Perspective, Challenges and Opportunities, organized by the Centre for Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir, here this afternoon, the Governor said that the emerging Asian resurgence must lead to evolving synergies among India, Pakistan and Central Asian countries, notwithstanding varied constraints.
In this context, Mr Vohra referred to the Cross-LoC-Trade on the Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote routes, which would be launched with a few days, and said that revival of traditional trading links, destroyed during the colonial period, would hopefully usher in an era of peace and normalcy that has "evaded us during half of the past century". He said that the trading activities have the prospect of opening up varied new avenues.
Referring to the ancient Silk Route, the Governor said that such linkages have been beneficial in influencing and enriching lingual, cultural and socio-religious traditions of the region. He said that the old and traditional routes were not merely travel routes; they contributed to enhancing the civilizational influences. In this context he referred to the evolution of the Persian language and literature in Kashmir and said that the storehouse of the Kashmiri language too had been greatly influenced.
The Governor observed that in 5000 years of recorded Indian history, the intermingling of languages, religions and cultures had produced an invaluable synchronization of socio-cultural traditions and values. "These values have manifested in the great Indian ethos of secularism, embedded deep in thousands of years of Indian history", he added. This will engender
Expressing happiness on the organisation of this International Conference by the Centre for Central Asian Studies, the Governor expressed confidence that the eminent scholars who had assembled here, at the Kashmir University, would evolve highly beneficial recommendations.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tamerlan Karayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said that the history of Great Silk Routes goes back to centuries, but it has the potential of bringing the nations in the region closer and usher in prosperity and progress. He said that this ancient route was passing through Indian territory. "India, as an integral part of that cultural and economic interaction in the past, might play a bigger role in modern period and make valuable contribution to the process of restoring Great Silk Road.The Ambassador Karayev expressed the hoped that the Silk Road would become an extra tool in deepening relations with India and reconnecting the world's fastest growing economy with the world's largest democracy for mutual benefit.
The Governor released the annual publication of the Centre for Central Asian Studies while the Ambassador and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Riyaz Punjabi, also released two publications of the Centre. 
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Professor (Dr) Riyaz Punjabi, highlighted the importance of the Silk Road in the backdrop of the globalization. He said that the relations between India and Central Asia have always remained cordial and envisioned an expedition on this vital linkage. He said that the Central Asia has assumed greater significance in view of its high reserves of oil and gas.
Professor Punjabi highlighted the importance of the Central Asia as a single entity, politically and economically, and also dwelt on the crucial significance of Silk Road in shaping the economy of the region.
Professor Mansoora Haider, Former Chairperson, Advanced Study Centre of Aligarh Muslim University, presented the key note address.
The Vice Chancellor felicitated the Centre for Central Asian Studies for organisation such a conference in which delegates from various countries were participating.
Professor Dilorom Alimova, Director Institute of History, Academy of Sciences, Professor Azad Shamatov, Director, Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan, Professor Mirzokhid Rakhimov, Director Department of Contemporary History, Uzbekistan, Professor Akhiro Awaslita, Professor Ajay Patnaik, Professor Sattar Mazhitov, Professor Ruel Hanks, Professor Valeiry Khan would be presenting papers during various sessions in the Conference.