Organised this time by Kaamna Prasad of Jashn-e-Bahaar, the mushaira was announced as an `apolitical literary pursuit.' But when the dialogue is between India and Pakistan, even though a poetic one, politics cannot be avoided. The poets, in their verses, returned many a time to the body politic of the sub-continent. The predominant references were to fundamentalism on both sides of the border and bomb explosions.

Well-known Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz was unable to attend, but his poem, which concluded with the line Chalo main haath badhata hoon dosti ke liye (Come, I extend my hand in friendship), was quoted by Ali Sardar Jafri, who presided over the mushaira. Jafri then read a poem in reply:

Jo haath tumne badhaya hai dosti ke liye/Mere liye woh haath hai/Yaar-e-ghamgusaar ka haath.

An Indian poet pointed out that there was asequel to this poem, in which Faraz had withdrawn his hand following the Pokharan explosion, and felt the friendship was strong enough to withstand the explosions. Rahat Indori, however, voiced the common fear:

Iss baras zameen mein dhuyan boyea hai/Shakhon pe phal nahi bomb aayeinge.The spirit of camaraderie and friendship, though, was not lacking, with many poets choosing to delve on this theme. Nawaz Devpandi was at his best with, Dosti mein ana nahi chalti; Khud na aate kabhi bulaate to. Himayat Ali Shair, who presided over the second half of the mushaira, also prayed for the shama-e-dosti to remain aflame in the two countries. And Manawwar Rana from Calcutta summed up the relationship saying: Hamari dosti se dushmani sharmai rehati hai/Ham Akbar hain dil mein Jodha Bai rehati hai.

Women poets outnumbered the men in the Pakistani delegation, comprising Kishwar Nahid, Fahmida Riaz and Samina Raza. Riaz has a long relationship with India, having lived here in a seven-year exile during the Zia-ul-Haqregime. With delightful irony, she commented on the rise of fundamentalism on this side of the border too:

Tum bilkul ham jaise nikle/Ab tak kahan chuupe thhe bhai.

Among the other poets who regaled the audience were Kaifi Azmi, John Elia, Javed Akhtar, Bashir Badr, Nida Fazli, Sagar Khayami and Anjum Rehbar. On the flip side, Malikzada Manzur's compering did not veer from the cliches. The organisation of the event too was poor, with a haphazard seating arrangement and no fans for the poets.

However, the spirit of poetry transcended these flaws. Chief Guest Kuldip Nayar expressed the hope that an Indo-Pak mushaira would be held at Wagha. Jafri said a mushaira should travel from Lahore to Delhi in the spirit of a cricket match, with recitations at different towns en route.