Journalists and writers from border regions of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, assembled at Peshawar in connection with a two-day conference criticised international media for its ‘unrealistic’ attitude towards the region by which it fuels the tense situation by highlighting violent, resistance, confrontation and hostilities.
The conference on “Cross border media, strengthening of relations for peace and development’ was organized by Mediotheck, with collaboration of Peshawar Press Club and University of Peshawar. Around 30 journalists from Afghanistan and 80 from Pakistan are participating in the conference.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Barrister Masud Kausar was chief guest in the inaugural session, which was also attended by Vice Chancellor of Peshawar University Dr Azmat Hayat Khan, Vice Chancellor of Kohat University Dr Nasar Jamal Khattak and Swat University Vice Chancellor Dr Jehanzeb Khan besides Governor Barrister Masud Kausar, Dr Azmat Hayat Khan, Hameed Ullah Zazzi from Afghanistan, Saif Ul Islam Saif President Peshawar Press Club and Safdar Dawar President Tribal Union of Journalists have addressed the inaugural session.
Addressing the conference, Masud Kausar said the joint conference can play a role in the efforts aimed at combating the trends of violence and terrorism and strengthening of relations between the two countries. He said that media considered important in molding of public opinion and the streamlining of state policies. He said that it was a good sign that media from the neighbouring countries had realised the importance of peace and stability.
Later in the working session, scholars and journalists like Dr Nasar Jamal Khattak, Dr Sarfaraz Khan, Dr Mohammad Syed Niazi, Prof Syed Irfan Ashraf, Mohammad Najib Ullah Alokhel, Prof Iltaf Ullah Khan, Iqbal Khattak, Saif Ul Islam Saifi, Shamim Shahid, Safdar Dawar and others have diverted attentions towards responsibilities and shortfalls on the part of media of both the countries.