One year after Operation Sindoor, 117 personalities from India and Pakistan have appealed to PM Modi and Shehbaz Sharif for dialogue, peace and restoration of relations. Why after all?
After completion of one year of ‘Operation Sindoor’, more than 100 eminent personalities of India and Pakistan have taken a joint initiative towards normalizing relations between the two countries. In this appeal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have been urged to take concrete and consistent steps for peace, dialogue and re-strengthening of bilateral relations. This appeal has been issued by the Center for Peace and Progress. A total of 117 people have signed it, including 61 from India and 56 from Pakistan.
Appeal to both countries to end enmity
The joint letter states that the biggest loss of the long-standing enmity between India and Pakistan is being caused to the people of both the countries, especially the youth. Due to this they are not getting better opportunities, economic development and secure future. The signatories said that now the time has come for both the countries to leave confrontation and adopt the path of cooperation and dialogue.
Who among those signed from India?
This appeal has been signed by many prominent people associated with political, social and public life of India and Pakistan. Signatories from the Indian side include National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, RJD MP Manoj Jha, AJUP leader and former West Bengal minister Humayun Kabir.
Who among the signatories from Pakistan’s side?
From Pakistan side, former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, former diplomat Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, National Assembly member Isfanyar Bhandara, nuclear scientist and writer Parvez Hoodbhoy are included.
Many suggestions raised to restore trust
In the letter, both the governments have been appealed to take several important steps to restore trust. In these..
- To restore full diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- To reappoint High Commissioners to New Delhi and Islamabad.
- Resumption of normal visa services.
- Opening of airspace for commercial flights.
- Reopening of Attari-Wagah border for trade and travel.
- Restoration of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.
- Restarting other schemes for cross-border connectivity.
India’s stance is still the same
This appeal has come at a time when the Indian government is continuously reiterating that there has been no change in its policy towards Pakistan. New Delhi clearly says that “terror and talks cannot go together and terror and trade also cannot go together.” India also says that improvement in relations between the two countries is possible only when cross-border terrorism is completely ended.
Emphasis given on the future of youth
The letter said that the combined population of India and Pakistan is equal to about one-fifth of the total world population and a large number of youth live in both the countries. The signatories say that the future of these youth must be based on peace, development, better connectivity and cooperation, and not on persistent tension, mistrust and conflict. “The people of both countries deserve a future that is based on peace, development, connectivity and cooperation,” the letter said.
Demand for talks on all issues including Jammu and Kashmir
The joint letter demands resumption of comprehensive bilateral talks on all pending issues including Jammu and Kashmir. Along with this, an appeal has also been made to reconsider the framework of dialogue made between 2004 to 2007, reduce tension on the borders, reduce army deployment and find solutions to the legitimate security concerns of both the countries.
Emphasis also on Kartarpur corridor and religious trips
The letter also suggests restarting several religious and cultural initiatives as part of confidence building measures.
- Reopening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
- To ease access to Sharda Peeth located in Neelam Valley of Pakistan.
- To simplify travel to religious and cultural heritage sites of both the countries.
- The signatories believe that such initiatives will help in increasing trust between the people of the two countries.