Indo-Pak tension: Peaceniks demand amicable settlement to avoid war-like situation, work towards mutual trust

For maintaining peace and friendship of the South Asia, especially between India and Pakistan, organisations like Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, Folklore Research Academy Amritsar, Punjab Jagriti Manch Jalandhar and Progressive Writers’ Association Punjab, which have been working for the past several decades, expressed deep concern over the growing conflict between India and Pakistan after the heinous attack on tourists by terrorists in Pahalgam.

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“The common people should not be punished for inhumane acts of terrorists. It is very important for governments of India and Pakistan to treat them differently from terrorists. Politicians and media in both the countries should also refrain from inciting hatred.”

Ramesh Yadav, president, Folklore Research Academy, Amritsar

Leaders associated with these organisations in a joint statement said, “There is a suspicion among people of both the countries about emergence of war-like situation.” They demanded that an amicable solution to avoid this situation should be there and the mutual trust between the two countries had to be restored.

These leaders also demanded relaxation in strong decision taken by India and Pakistan to cancel visas of citizens of both the countries. Leaders said there should be exemption from visa cancellation for citizens on humanitarian grounds, for married couples and people traveling to one or the other country for medical treatment.

“The common people should not be punished for inhumane acts of terrorists. It is very important for the governments to treat common people differently from terrorists. Politicians and media in both the countries should also refrain from inciting hatred,” said Ramesh Yadav, president, Folklore Research Academy, Amritsar.

They also opined that the agreement signed between the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, in 1950 for the protection and welfare of minorities in both the countries should be implemented effectively.

“Also on these lines, both the countries should sign another new agreement regarding not allowing any terrorist organisation to use their respective lands and resolve all bilateral issues through peaceful negotiations,” said Satnam Singh Manak, general secretary, Hindu-Pakistan Friendship Forum.

Deepak, general secretary, Punjab Jagriti Manch, and Sukhdev Singh Sirsa, general secretary, Progressive Writers’ Association of India, said a serious initiative from Pakistan could prevent further deterioration of relations between the two countries.

They said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should take an initiative on behalf of his country. They said he should speak to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself and strongly condemn the attack on tourists.

“He should assure that in the coming times, Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used by anti-India terrorist organisations in any way. Shehbaz Sharif must fully cooperate with India in taking action against perpetrators of the Pahalgam incident,” they said.