[The News International, March 26, 2005]
MARCHING TO PEACE
New citizens' initiatives are afoot, which could significantly boost the India-Pakistan peace process
by Praful Bidwai
The past ten days have witnessed two events that could significantly transform the shape of the India-Pakistan peace process. The first was the inauguration in New Delhi on March 17 of an exhibition based on the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front's leader Mohammad Yasin Malik's two years-long campaign to demand the inclusion of the Kashmiri people in the India-Pakistan dialogue.
And the second was the flagging off on Wednesday of a citizens' joint march from Delhi to Multan to highlight the case for peace and celebrate the composite culture that India and Pakistan share via the Sufi tradition. The march retraces Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia's journey circa 1257 from Delhi to Ajodhan and Multan to meet Baba Farid, the great Sufi saint-poet.
Both events have the potential to galvanise public opinion. At stake here is not just a limited concept of peace as the absence of war, but a durable peace based on a meeting of minds. The two developments must be welcomed without reservation.
Yasin Malik did something unusual, indeed unique, when he began a walking tour of major towns and some 5,000 villages in Indian Kashmir, with a one-point agenda: a signature campaign. The one-line statement demanded that "we, the Kashmiri people" must be seriously involved in the India-Pakistan dialogue, purportedly undertaken to resolve all disputes, including Kashmir.
Malik has collected some 1.5 million signatures or thumb impressions of people, with names and addresses -- something completely unprecedented in the state, which has long suffered a compression and distortion of the political process under the rule of the gun.
Malik's march, which covered all three regions of J&K, barring the districts which he wasn't allowed to visit for security-related reasons (like Uri and Poonch), succeeded in putting a positive agenda before the people, one that counters the negation-driven slogans that have dominated the Kashmir Valley for 15 years amidst violence both of the state and separatist jehadi militants once supported by Pakistan.
The affirmation of a Kashmiri identity cutting across religious, regional and ethnic divides is itself welcome. Even more welcome is the language of peace and the Gandhian mould of activism in which the march is embedded. However, two things impart Yasin Malik's initiative a very special significance. It comes just when India and Pakistan have for the first time ever seriously pledged themselves to discussing the Kashmir issue.
There is a sweet irony about the nature of this bilateral dialogue. The more progress India and Pakistan make in the dialogue, the weightier will the case become for taking the process beyond the bilateral framework! The absurdity of resolving the Kashmir issue without consultation with and participation of the Kashmiri people will become increasingly evident.
Democratic principle, as well as elementary requirements of fairness and justice --namely, voice and representation -- dictate that the Kashmiri people must be involved at some point of time in a discussion of their fate.
Yasin Malik, a former militant who announced a unilateral ceasefire a decade ago when the JKLF was being targeted by all other armed groups and state agencies, has had the foresight to see that the ground for the Kashmiri people's involvement must be prepared right now. The Kashmiris must assert themselves and start thinking creatively about a just and peaceful solution to the issue over which two and a half wars have been fought -- in their name. Only then will some imaginative solutions emerge, as well as rudimentary structures and forms of association, through which their involvement could be brought about.
The second worthy aspect of Malik's overall initiative is that it's not confined to Kashmir, although the march itself was. Rather, he wants to take the Kashmiri people's message to the Indian and Pakistani publics and policy-makers.
The two-day exhibition in Delhi was only the first step in the larger process. It was nevertheless important. Malik's audience included Pakistan's High Commissioner and his deputy, as well as a former Indian foreign secretary, numerous political leaders, civil society activists and intellectuals. The gathering also included P.N. Dhar, former top-ranking civil servant and Indira Gandhi's aide during the Shimla conference of 1972.
Malik's exhibition, and the activities organised around it, mark a major step forward in the growing, empathetic, interaction between Kashmiri civil society and political groups, and their counterparts in the rest of India.
This conversation is relatively recent. But its importance cannot be overemphasised. Nothing like it existed during the worst phase of violence in Kashmir, or even until a couple of years ago, when the first signs of a thaw appeared. Rather, mutual apathy, and even suspicion, dominated such limited civil society interaction as existed. The process must be extended to the rest of India and to Pakistan as well.
The effects of this new interaction are already becoming evident at the political level, with their focus on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus. While conservatives within the National Conference, led by Farooq Abdullah, have joined hands with the BJP in voicing reservations over the bus, the majority strongly roots for it.
Omar Abdullah, refuting his father, demands that India and Pakistan "should do a lot more to sustain the goodwill and the 'feel-good' atmosphere" the trans-LoC bus has generated: "It needs to be a big bus and a daily service. Travellers should not switch the buses and cross the LoC on foot. A big concrete bridge should be constructed ...let them ply a fortnightly service for six months but for God's sake, let them make a commitment of making it a daily-service, or otherwise it will boomerang."
The Delhi-Multan peace march is an excellent idea. But its success will depend on whether the two governments cooperate by granting visas to the marchers. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz recently received a delegation of them and offered to be generous in granting visas to the Indian contingent.
At the time of writing, New Delhi had still not acted on its promise to give visas to the proposed 40-strong Pakistani contingent. (Three of them are in Delhi: A.H. Nayyar, physicist, peace activist and able dissector of prejudice in Pakistani school textbooks, Irfan Mufti, and Muqtida Ali Khan.)
The Indian side is led by Sandeep Pandey, a Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace activist, who was awarded the Magsaysay prize (which he returned). In 1999, Pandey led a peace march from Pokharan to Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, where the Buddha delivered his first peace sermon.
The Delhi-Multan marchers are inspired by the Sufi tradition stretching from Bulley Shah, through Amir Khusro, to Kabir and Guru Nanak, as well as more contemporary figures in Hindustani/Urdu literature like Ghalib, Faiz, Krishan Chander, Manto, Rajinder Singh Bedi, and Ahmad Faraz. The emphasis in the marchers' message is not just on ridding the subcontinent of nuclear weapons and militarism, but on a meeting of minds through a celebration of our common culture and heritage.
It is no coincidence that the march began on Pakistan Day (also Bhagat Singh's death anniversary) and ends on the anniversary of the first Pokharan tests seven years ago. The Indian government must not drag its feet on visas. It will earn goodwill by showing exemplary broad-mindedness and generosity.
March 24, 2005
Indo-Pak march starts from Nizamuddin in New Delhi
(Times of India, March 24, 2005)
Indo-Pak march starts from Nizamuddin
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2005 11:53:39 PM ]
NEW DELHI: A walk into the hearts of people. That’s the aim of the Indo-Pak Peace March which kicked off on Wednesday.
The walk which started after an offering at the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, aims to touch Multan in Pakistan by May 11.
The walk, which has been organised by citizen groups of India and Pakistan saw tremendous support from both sides of the border.
Various prominent personalities like Mahesh Bhatt, Nafisa Ali, SAR Geelani could be seen expressing their solidarity.
"Each drop is important for the ocean to be full. It is an attempt to reach the masses," said actor Nandita Das.
"The governments of Pakistan and India have not been very supportive of the attempt. 43 citizens from Pakistan have not been granted visas to come to India. A list of 114 Indians is also awaiting the approval of the Indian government. But we still hope for the success of this walk," said Dr Sandeep Pandey, the coordinator from India.
"The basic aim is to dispel the notion of animosity created by politicians to serve their interests. It is an attempt to bring people together at the grassroots level and make them realise how similar we are," said Dr A H Nayyar from Pakistan.
Other marchers from Pakistan who were participating in the walk were Irfan Mufti and Muqtida A K Masoor.
Indo-Pak march starts from Nizamuddin
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2005 11:53:39 PM ]
NEW DELHI: A walk into the hearts of people. That’s the aim of the Indo-Pak Peace March which kicked off on Wednesday.
The walk which started after an offering at the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, aims to touch Multan in Pakistan by May 11.
The walk, which has been organised by citizen groups of India and Pakistan saw tremendous support from both sides of the border.
Various prominent personalities like Mahesh Bhatt, Nafisa Ali, SAR Geelani could be seen expressing their solidarity.
"Each drop is important for the ocean to be full. It is an attempt to reach the masses," said actor Nandita Das.
"The governments of Pakistan and India have not been very supportive of the attempt. 43 citizens from Pakistan have not been granted visas to come to India. A list of 114 Indians is also awaiting the approval of the Indian government. But we still hope for the success of this walk," said Dr Sandeep Pandey, the coordinator from India.
"The basic aim is to dispel the notion of animosity created by politicians to serve their interests. It is an attempt to bring people together at the grassroots level and make them realise how similar we are," said Dr A H Nayyar from Pakistan.
Other marchers from Pakistan who were participating in the walk were Irfan Mufti and Muqtida A K Masoor.
March 21, 2005
Moving towards a durable peace
[The News International
March 21, 2005 ]
Moving towards a durable peace
by Sandeep Pandey
Why should the Prime Minister of Pakistan be interested in talking to an Indian activist about a proposed peace march?
My friend Karamat Ali, a peace activist and co-organizer from Pakistan of the proposed Delhi to Multan India-Pakistan Peace March (March 23 to May 11, 2005), was trying to include me in a delegation of Pakistan Peace Coalition, which had got an appointment to meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on March 12, to discuss the organization of the march and specifically request visas for the marchers from India, who would cross over into Pakistan at Wagah on April 18. I was amazed when got the invitation, just 48 hours before the appointment. I had to literally rush to Islamabad after getting my visa and ticket.
That the office of Prime Minister decided to invite me to discuss the peace march along with Pakistani activists clearly indicated that the Government of Pakistan was viewing this march positively. The peace activists of India and Pakistan, independently and jointly, have been opposing the nuclearisation of the sub-continent and advocating for peace even when the relationship between the two countries was very hostile.
Peaceniks on both sides of the border are often dismissed as a bunch of idealists and accused of playing into the hands of elements working against the interests of our respective countries, and sometimes directly accused of being anti-national. The governments aren't very supportive either. Hence it was a welcome surprise that the Pakistani Prime Minister was full of praise for initiatives taken by peace activists and hoped that more such initiatives would bring about a lasting change in the situation in South Asia. He acknowledged the role of peace movements in having a decisive influence over the two governments.
Shaukat Aziz expressed the commitment of the Government of Pakistan towards building an atmosphere of peace in the sub-continent and the willingness to do whatever was necessary to achieve this objective. He said that President Musharraf shared this vision. He was quite candid about the contentious issues and hoped that through dialogue they would be resolved. He claimed that no past Government of Pakistan had been so open about this objective and for the first time there was no fear about discussing the issues.
He was happy with the way the peace process was moving forward but disappointed over the lack of progress on resolving the Kashmir dispute, resolving which in his view is key to establishing permanent peace between India and Pakistan. He was also disappointed at the postponement of the SAARC meeting and said that Pakistan was 'hurt' on the Baglihar Dam issue; water is emerging as a contentious issue between the two countries.
I was impressed by Shaukat Aziz's forthrightness. He said that unlike the past this government is not interested in merely containing problems, but is actually committed to resolving the outstanding issues. And this is obvious in his approach when addressing some of them. He spelt out the position of the Government of Pakistan on each issue and hoped that on bilateral matters India would respond positively. He was full of praise for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his positive attitude towards settling differences.
Security, however, is one issue that makes the leadership of the two countries nervous. During the exchange Shaukat Aziz pointed out the necessity for Pakistan to keep arms for its security, and admitted the compulsion of Pakistan to match India's capability whenever it decides to procure any new category of arms, leading to an arms race. There exists tremendous confusion regarding more dangerous arms giving a sense of security.
If you think about the issue with a cool head, you realise the relationship between security and more dangerous arms is inverse. We become more insecure as we possess more dangerous arms.
Peace activists from Pakistan and India have been advocating the unilateral, or with bilateral agreement, renunciation of nuclear weapons and downgrading armed forces at the border. Only a border free of army and arms can provide us with a sense of true security on both sides. I hope our heads of State will eventually understand this clear logic and move towards getting rid of weapons.
That is when the common people on both sides will be the winners, as resources being diverted in the name of security today, will be freed up for real development. In times of globalisation as economic progress becomes more important than military security, the leaders of the two countries appear to have realized the futility of the arms race and pursue the road to peace. Times are changing. The concept of jingoistic nationalism is going out of date and this is a welcome development. The economic development of the people who comprise a nation is becoming centre-stage on the political agenda, as it should be.
I still find it difficult to believe that I was allowed into the office of the Prime Minister of a country that until not long ago was considered an enemy country, and got to listen to his frank opinion on pressing issues. His approach clearly reflects the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to bring about peace and normalcy in the region.
Thank you, Mr. Shaukat Aziz, for making it possible for me to meet you. If your government allows the India-Pakistan Peace March to take place, your initiative will go a long way towards opening the doors for normalising the relationship between citizens of the two countries. This will help establish a durable peace, something that appears elusive but which the people most definitely desire on both sides of the border.
March 21, 2005 ]
Moving towards a durable peace
by Sandeep Pandey
Why should the Prime Minister of Pakistan be interested in talking to an Indian activist about a proposed peace march?
My friend Karamat Ali, a peace activist and co-organizer from Pakistan of the proposed Delhi to Multan India-Pakistan Peace March (March 23 to May 11, 2005), was trying to include me in a delegation of Pakistan Peace Coalition, which had got an appointment to meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on March 12, to discuss the organization of the march and specifically request visas for the marchers from India, who would cross over into Pakistan at Wagah on April 18. I was amazed when got the invitation, just 48 hours before the appointment. I had to literally rush to Islamabad after getting my visa and ticket.
That the office of Prime Minister decided to invite me to discuss the peace march along with Pakistani activists clearly indicated that the Government of Pakistan was viewing this march positively. The peace activists of India and Pakistan, independently and jointly, have been opposing the nuclearisation of the sub-continent and advocating for peace even when the relationship between the two countries was very hostile.
Peaceniks on both sides of the border are often dismissed as a bunch of idealists and accused of playing into the hands of elements working against the interests of our respective countries, and sometimes directly accused of being anti-national. The governments aren't very supportive either. Hence it was a welcome surprise that the Pakistani Prime Minister was full of praise for initiatives taken by peace activists and hoped that more such initiatives would bring about a lasting change in the situation in South Asia. He acknowledged the role of peace movements in having a decisive influence over the two governments.
Shaukat Aziz expressed the commitment of the Government of Pakistan towards building an atmosphere of peace in the sub-continent and the willingness to do whatever was necessary to achieve this objective. He said that President Musharraf shared this vision. He was quite candid about the contentious issues and hoped that through dialogue they would be resolved. He claimed that no past Government of Pakistan had been so open about this objective and for the first time there was no fear about discussing the issues.
He was happy with the way the peace process was moving forward but disappointed over the lack of progress on resolving the Kashmir dispute, resolving which in his view is key to establishing permanent peace between India and Pakistan. He was also disappointed at the postponement of the SAARC meeting and said that Pakistan was 'hurt' on the Baglihar Dam issue; water is emerging as a contentious issue between the two countries.
I was impressed by Shaukat Aziz's forthrightness. He said that unlike the past this government is not interested in merely containing problems, but is actually committed to resolving the outstanding issues. And this is obvious in his approach when addressing some of them. He spelt out the position of the Government of Pakistan on each issue and hoped that on bilateral matters India would respond positively. He was full of praise for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his positive attitude towards settling differences.
Security, however, is one issue that makes the leadership of the two countries nervous. During the exchange Shaukat Aziz pointed out the necessity for Pakistan to keep arms for its security, and admitted the compulsion of Pakistan to match India's capability whenever it decides to procure any new category of arms, leading to an arms race. There exists tremendous confusion regarding more dangerous arms giving a sense of security.
If you think about the issue with a cool head, you realise the relationship between security and more dangerous arms is inverse. We become more insecure as we possess more dangerous arms.
Peace activists from Pakistan and India have been advocating the unilateral, or with bilateral agreement, renunciation of nuclear weapons and downgrading armed forces at the border. Only a border free of army and arms can provide us with a sense of true security on both sides. I hope our heads of State will eventually understand this clear logic and move towards getting rid of weapons.
That is when the common people on both sides will be the winners, as resources being diverted in the name of security today, will be freed up for real development. In times of globalisation as economic progress becomes more important than military security, the leaders of the two countries appear to have realized the futility of the arms race and pursue the road to peace. Times are changing. The concept of jingoistic nationalism is going out of date and this is a welcome development. The economic development of the people who comprise a nation is becoming centre-stage on the political agenda, as it should be.
I still find it difficult to believe that I was allowed into the office of the Prime Minister of a country that until not long ago was considered an enemy country, and got to listen to his frank opinion on pressing issues. His approach clearly reflects the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to bring about peace and normalcy in the region.
Thank you, Mr. Shaukat Aziz, for making it possible for me to meet you. If your government allows the India-Pakistan Peace March to take place, your initiative will go a long way towards opening the doors for normalising the relationship between citizens of the two countries. This will help establish a durable peace, something that appears elusive but which the people most definitely desire on both sides of the border.
Annoncement re inauguration of Indo-Pak Peace March
Indo-Pak Peace March
Delhi to Multan, March 23 - May 11, 2005
We, Citizen Groups of India and Pakistan, are jointly taking out India-Pakistan Peace March from Delhi to Multan from 23rd March to 11th May 2005.
The March will be inaugurated in a ceremony attended by the marchers and prominent personalities from different walks of life, who will express their solidarity. Cultural Programs will also be organised to mark the occasion. We request you to grace the occasion by your valuable presence.
Date: 23rd March 2005
VENUE:
"Bharatiyam"
Bharat Scouts and Guides Camp
(Opp. Humayun Tomb),
Nizamuddin, New Delhi-110014
Time: 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
PROGRAM:
1. Inauguration
2. Opening remarks by organizers
3. Introduction & welcome to Marchers
4. Cultural Programs
5. Solidarity Expressions
6. Offering at Dargah
7. Flag off the march
Looking forward to your participation in Indo-Pak peace process.
Sincerely
Sandeep Pandey Anil Chaudhary Karamat Ali
Delhi to Multan, March 23 - May 11, 2005
We, Citizen Groups of India and Pakistan, are jointly taking out India-Pakistan Peace March from Delhi to Multan from 23rd March to 11th May 2005.
The March will be inaugurated in a ceremony attended by the marchers and prominent personalities from different walks of life, who will express their solidarity. Cultural Programs will also be organised to mark the occasion. We request you to grace the occasion by your valuable presence.
Date: 23rd March 2005
VENUE:
"Bharatiyam"
Bharat Scouts and Guides Camp
(Opp. Humayun Tomb),
Nizamuddin, New Delhi-110014
Time: 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
PROGRAM:
1. Inauguration
2. Opening remarks by organizers
3. Introduction & welcome to Marchers
4. Cultural Programs
5. Solidarity Expressions
6. Offering at Dargah
7. Flag off the march
Looking forward to your participation in Indo-Pak peace process.
Sincerely
Sandeep Pandey Anil Chaudhary Karamat Ali
March 20, 2005
India Pakistan Rediscovering Each Other (Sandeep Pandey)
[sacw.net | March 20, 2005
URL:
www.sacw.net/peace/Sandeep_Pandey19032005.html ]
[INDIA - PAKISTAN] REDISCOVERING EACH OTHER
by Sandeep Pandey
[Published earlier in Hindustan Times, 19 March 2005]
I am hearing stories from people returning from India who went there to see the cricket game in Chandigarh of the tremendous response they got from Indians. They did not have to pay for their stay or food. Indian families were competing with each other in inviting Pakistanis over to their place for dinner. The Pakistanis were having difficulty in deciding which invitation to accept and which to leave. Indians were welcoming Pakistanis with warmth as they probably do not welcome their own fellow citizens from other parts of India. Similarly when weíre in Pakistan we get a response so overwhelming which probably the Pakistanis would not offer to their own fellow citizens. How strange this is? First we hated each other for over 50 years and then all floodgates of emotions open. Which of the two feelings is real?
At least we have advanced from putting our youth in battle fields against each other to putting them in cricket fields. Cricket fields also used to be like battle fields once. Now we have improved. There is bonhomie which has replaced the feeling of revenge. Victory and loss are no longer a matter of prestige. Our politicians are telling our cricketers to play for diplomacy. Cricket has moved from second last page of newspapers when we were children to the front pages now. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also highlighted the role of cricket and bollywood in improving India-Pakistan relations. It is unfortunate that because of failure of resolution of issues politically we have to resort to a detour using cricket. However, that weíre moving towards the right goal is important.
There are contentious issues between India and Pakistan which need resolution. Prime Minister Saukat Aziz rightly pointed out in a discussion, when I went to see him in Islamabad in connection with our proposed Delhi to Multan Indian Pakistan Peace March scheduled to begin on 23rd March, 2005 from the dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya, unless the issue of Kashmir is resolved we cannot hope to have a durable peace between India and Pakistan. He expressed his unhappiness over the way things have unfolded in Baglihar dam talks and admitted that Pakistan was ëhurtí. These and a number of contentious issues will keep propping up whenever things would start to look bright. However, we have to decide whether weíll choose to co-exist living with these issues or will perish together bombing each other with state of the art weaponry.
After all, in India we have water disputes between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Cauvery river. The emotions between the people of two states run as high as between Indian and Pakistanis whenever a contentious issue is discussed. The problem has existed since independence and will probably remain unresolved for a long time to come. But that doesnít take Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to the brink of bombing each other with nuclear weapons. So, why cannot India and Pakistan peacefully co-exist even if the problems remain unresolved for some time to come?
It is heartening to hear Shaukat Aziz that his Government is interested in resolving the disputes rather than just containing them. His governmentís commitment to peace and harmony was amply clear from his confident attitude when he was discussing various contentious issues in a forthright manner. He demonstrated an openness which has not been the hallmark of India Pakistan relations over our independent history.
The decision by governments of India and Pakistan to allow a bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar without the requirement of passports is a truly commendable one. Frankly, we had not expected that governments would take such a bold move so soon. If they continue on this path and free Kashmir from the grip of tension and violence by withdrawing their armed forces and helping life return to normalcy, they will do a great service to the people of Kashmir. India and Pakistan can jointly ensure the normalization process in Kashmir. How does lack of resolution of the Kashmir dispute come in the way of ensuring peace in Kashmir? For the people of Kashmir restoration of peace is the most important priority.
Infact, the arms race between India and Pakistan which is often linked to the Kashmir dispute is an independent phenomenon which is based on threat perception of each other. If we can have a relationship based on trust there will be no need for keeping any arms. And in due course of time the outstanding contentious issues will be resolved through the process of dialogue. If making of nuclear weapons has done any good it is that it has made us realize that there can be no military solution to the problem of Kashmir. The Kashmir issue will have to be resolved through a dialogue and that too involving the people of Kashmir, according to their aspirations. This may take some time. The common people of India and Pakistan cannot wait until then. They want the normalization process to continue. When the people donít feel threatened by each other, as is amply clear by the warmth and bonhomie generated during all exchange visits between citizens of two countries without exception, why should the governments live in suspicion of each other? Is it not the people that comprise any nation? Of course, there are the fundamentalists on both sides. But do they represent the feelings of common people?
Let us not force our youth to put on uniforms and make them face each other with guns in their hands at the border. After all, it is only a difference of few kilometers which determines which side theyíll fight for. It is only a matter of few kilometers which determines whether theyíll be indoctrinated in Indian nationalism or Pakistani nationalism. The outer coat of ideology in the name of nation or religion is what we received only after we were born. The nature did not ordain us to fight. We have more in common than we have differences. The cultural and emotional and more importantly human bondings are much deeper. Let us respect them, rediscover ourselves as peace loving people and learn to live peacefully with our differences.
URL:
www.sacw.net/peace/Sandeep_Pandey19032005.html ]
[INDIA - PAKISTAN] REDISCOVERING EACH OTHER
by Sandeep Pandey
[Published earlier in Hindustan Times, 19 March 2005]
I am hearing stories from people returning from India who went there to see the cricket game in Chandigarh of the tremendous response they got from Indians. They did not have to pay for their stay or food. Indian families were competing with each other in inviting Pakistanis over to their place for dinner. The Pakistanis were having difficulty in deciding which invitation to accept and which to leave. Indians were welcoming Pakistanis with warmth as they probably do not welcome their own fellow citizens from other parts of India. Similarly when weíre in Pakistan we get a response so overwhelming which probably the Pakistanis would not offer to their own fellow citizens. How strange this is? First we hated each other for over 50 years and then all floodgates of emotions open. Which of the two feelings is real?
At least we have advanced from putting our youth in battle fields against each other to putting them in cricket fields. Cricket fields also used to be like battle fields once. Now we have improved. There is bonhomie which has replaced the feeling of revenge. Victory and loss are no longer a matter of prestige. Our politicians are telling our cricketers to play for diplomacy. Cricket has moved from second last page of newspapers when we were children to the front pages now. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also highlighted the role of cricket and bollywood in improving India-Pakistan relations. It is unfortunate that because of failure of resolution of issues politically we have to resort to a detour using cricket. However, that weíre moving towards the right goal is important.
There are contentious issues between India and Pakistan which need resolution. Prime Minister Saukat Aziz rightly pointed out in a discussion, when I went to see him in Islamabad in connection with our proposed Delhi to Multan Indian Pakistan Peace March scheduled to begin on 23rd March, 2005 from the dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya, unless the issue of Kashmir is resolved we cannot hope to have a durable peace between India and Pakistan. He expressed his unhappiness over the way things have unfolded in Baglihar dam talks and admitted that Pakistan was ëhurtí. These and a number of contentious issues will keep propping up whenever things would start to look bright. However, we have to decide whether weíll choose to co-exist living with these issues or will perish together bombing each other with state of the art weaponry.
After all, in India we have water disputes between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Cauvery river. The emotions between the people of two states run as high as between Indian and Pakistanis whenever a contentious issue is discussed. The problem has existed since independence and will probably remain unresolved for a long time to come. But that doesnít take Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to the brink of bombing each other with nuclear weapons. So, why cannot India and Pakistan peacefully co-exist even if the problems remain unresolved for some time to come?
It is heartening to hear Shaukat Aziz that his Government is interested in resolving the disputes rather than just containing them. His governmentís commitment to peace and harmony was amply clear from his confident attitude when he was discussing various contentious issues in a forthright manner. He demonstrated an openness which has not been the hallmark of India Pakistan relations over our independent history.
The decision by governments of India and Pakistan to allow a bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar without the requirement of passports is a truly commendable one. Frankly, we had not expected that governments would take such a bold move so soon. If they continue on this path and free Kashmir from the grip of tension and violence by withdrawing their armed forces and helping life return to normalcy, they will do a great service to the people of Kashmir. India and Pakistan can jointly ensure the normalization process in Kashmir. How does lack of resolution of the Kashmir dispute come in the way of ensuring peace in Kashmir? For the people of Kashmir restoration of peace is the most important priority.
Infact, the arms race between India and Pakistan which is often linked to the Kashmir dispute is an independent phenomenon which is based on threat perception of each other. If we can have a relationship based on trust there will be no need for keeping any arms. And in due course of time the outstanding contentious issues will be resolved through the process of dialogue. If making of nuclear weapons has done any good it is that it has made us realize that there can be no military solution to the problem of Kashmir. The Kashmir issue will have to be resolved through a dialogue and that too involving the people of Kashmir, according to their aspirations. This may take some time. The common people of India and Pakistan cannot wait until then. They want the normalization process to continue. When the people donít feel threatened by each other, as is amply clear by the warmth and bonhomie generated during all exchange visits between citizens of two countries without exception, why should the governments live in suspicion of each other? Is it not the people that comprise any nation? Of course, there are the fundamentalists on both sides. But do they represent the feelings of common people?
Let us not force our youth to put on uniforms and make them face each other with guns in their hands at the border. After all, it is only a difference of few kilometers which determines which side theyíll fight for. It is only a matter of few kilometers which determines whether theyíll be indoctrinated in Indian nationalism or Pakistani nationalism. The outer coat of ideology in the name of nation or religion is what we received only after we were born. The nature did not ordain us to fight. We have more in common than we have differences. The cultural and emotional and more importantly human bondings are much deeper. Let us respect them, rediscover ourselves as peace loving people and learn to live peacefully with our differences.
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