Need to address strain in India-Pak ties: Rahul Singh

There’s an urgent need to address the strain in the India-Pak relations in a healthy manner so that the age-old bond becomes a true definition of human association, said Rahul Singh, Director of the Khushwant Singh Foundation.

Addressing the media here today, he said the three-day Khushwant Singh Litfest will start in Kasauli on October 10, with the resonating theme of theme ‘Voices of Tomorrow, Navigating the Future through Words’.

Rahul said amid conflict in different parts of the world “our endeavour has been to build a narrative of peace and amity”.

The theme of the litfest, he added, addresses the conflicts across the globe and there shall be effort to talk about peace and amity that Khushwant Singh so cherished. He said the theme echoes the sentiments of Khushwant Singh, who has been a silent inspiration behind the litfest.

Rahul Singh said the litfest would primarily focus on how literature and story-telling were going to shape up the positivity envisioned by Khushwant Singh.

He said it is this context that there’s an urgent need to work on cross-border amity and the historical bonds between India and Pakistan.

On the recent handshake controversy during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai, he said it was a childish behaviour on part of the Indian players. “They should have avoided playing the match with Pakistan if they did not wish to shake hands with them,” he added.

Rahul Singh said the KSLF, which is a litfest with a purpose, touches themes, which are infused with hope and try celebrating the richness and diversity of human cultures, transcending the boundaries and divides.