Indo-Pak ‘peace-mongers’ join hands

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 31

Taking heart from attempts at rapprochement between New Delhi and Islamabad, peace activists from both sides have decided to float a South Asia Peace Action Network (SAPAN) to bring “peace-monger” groups and individuals under one umbrella.

A virtual brainstorming session between Indian and Pakistani peace activists across time zones on March 28 resolved that SAPAN will urge both governments to reduce hostility, enable people to people contact by easing the visa regime and cut down on military expenditure.

With the recent announcement of a ceasefire by both armies and the meeting of the Indus Water Commissioners last week, a thaw between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours does not seem impossible, said a statement at the end of the interaction.

“There is conflict reporting, but we haven’t placed enough emphasis on peace journalism,” said Raza Rumi, editor Naya Daur, about the role of the media in fuelling tensions between both countries.

Activists hoped the current thaw in India-Pakistan relations will lead to more exchanges between the countries. Over the past five years, cultural exchanges as well as people-to-people contact between the two countries has almost come to a halt with very few visas being granted.

The participants included artist Salima Hashmi, former Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed, labour activist Karamat Ali, author Urvashi Butalia, women’s rights activist Sheema Kermani, Vijayan M.J., Sanjoy Hazarika of CHRI, Sandeep Panday, editor Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal, and former Indian Navy chief Ramu Ramdas besides several prominent Rotarians from both sides.

“We need to broaden the peace constituency by bringing people together, learning from each other on issues that affect us and that have potential to change our future,” said Ravi Nitesh, co-founder of the youth group Aaghaz-e-Dosti.

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