Politicians, anti-globalisation activists and peace campaigners will join representatives of civil society organisations and trade unions for the convention and peace rally organised by the private Pakistan Social Forum (PSF), they said.

The convention is in preparation for the World Social Forum in Bombay, starting on Friday, which follows a thaw in relations between nuclear powers Pakistan and India.

"We are making two contributions to WSF (World Social Forum) in the area of peace and anti-globalisation campaign," PSF coordinator Irfan Mufti told AFP.

"PSF will lead a Peace Caravan at WSF, which will be the biggest people-to-people contact event coupled with a meeting of parliamentarians to chalk out a declaration for a de-nuclearised and de-militarised South Asia."

The World Social Forum from January 16 to 21 in Bombay is the fourth such gathering of the world's anti-globalisation activists. The previous meetings were all held in Brazil.

India and Pakistan, two years after a New Delhi militant attack which brought them close to their fourth war, last week announced that they were resuming dialogue stalled since July 2001.

Several delegations of Indian and Pakistani peace activists, parliamentarians, lawyers, journalists and students have crossed the border to revive people-to-people contacts since April last year.

"The Pakistani participants will strive at WSF to give a boost to confidence-building and peace moves in South Asia," Mufti said.

On the issue of globalisation, Mufti said that Pakistani activists will forge alliances with various groups at WSF to fight against corporate control of world economy.

"The global forum will provide us with an opportunity to strengthen ties with civil society groups and regional networks working for the rights of the people marginalised by globalisation," Mufti said.

Some 1,800 members of PSF would participate in WSF meeting, he said.

"We had requests from about 10,000 people across Pakistan who wished to go to Bombay, but had to cut down the number of participants for the convenience of the organisers," he said.

Abbass Shakir, who is organising a delegation from Pakistan's biggest province Punjab, told AFP that the PSF had been preparing for the Bombay convention since last March.

"A 75-member national steering committee drawing members from all regions of Pakistan was set up and a series of meetings and seminars on the impact of globalisation, prospects of peace and cultural harmony were organised," Shakir said.

"We will take part in cultural events at WSF and present theatre performance for the delegates," he added.

Shakir said Monday's convention would be followed by a peace rally.

"The participants will articulate and finalise Pakistan's stand on the issues of peace and globalisation," Shakir said.

WAR.WIRE