A renewed dialogue among SAARC leaders must begin immediately to foster peace, stability, and mutual cooperation across South Asia, speakers urged at an international conference held at Apex University in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on Saturday.
They emphasised that the SAARC Journalists Forum — an organisation comprising journalists from the SAARC nations — can play a crucial role in facilitating this process.
The two-day conference, titled "The Role of Journalism for Peace and Stability in South Asia", was jointly organised by the SAARC Journalists Forum, India Chapter, and Apex University.
Raju Lama, President of the Forum's Central Committee based in Nepal, warned that South Asia is steadily drifting towards instability, raising fears of potential conflict. "The situation could worsen if urgent steps are not taken," he cautioned. Recalling a rare moment of diplomatic warmth at the 2016 SAARC summit, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shook hands, Lama said Nepal has consistently worked for peace and remains committed to promoting dialogue among SAARC leaders.
Addressing the conference, Apex University Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Khemraj Chowdhury stressed that the urgency for cross-border dialogue among South Asian nations has never been greater.
"It is no longer possible to establish peace through arms. We must awaken people's conscience and foster values that promote harmony," he said. Dr Chowdhury added that journalists have a significant responsibility to build public pressure through accurate and ethical reporting, reminding attendees that many wars throughout history have ended through dialogue.
In a session focused on the challenges and prospects of journalism in South Asia, Prof Rakesh Goswami of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) highlighted the growing threat of misinformation.
"Today, social media spreads information rapidly, often without verification or responsibility, shaping public opinion before the truth emerges," he said. He cautioned that widespread misinformation and disinformation on social platforms have become major challenges for traditional media. Raising awareness about the dangers of false information is now more important than ever, he added.
Representing Bangladesh, Rafiqul Islam Azad, former President of the Dhaka Reporters Unity, observed that freedom of expression and the health of the media are closely tied to the strength of democracy in each country across the region.
"When democracy is weakened, freedom of the media and freedom of speech suffer alongside it," he said.
The conference drew journalists, academics, communication experts, and journalism students from across SAARC member countries, all of whom shared a common belief: journalism can and must play a pivotal role in promoting peace, understanding, and cooperation in South Asia.
